Sport in East Africa. 303 



for about half a mile, and then turned to the left 

 towards some enclosures of " dhurra." I had scarcely 

 entered the first when a florikan got up ; I only winged 

 it, and as it could not fly, it ran across the fields and 

 an adjoining plain. Keloading, I ran after it, going 

 at a good pace, when up got about twenty guinea 

 fowls in a covey. They were so close, that to miss 

 them seemed impossible, so I fired rapidly at the 

 largest cluster, expecting that five or six w r ould drop 

 at least, but did not bring down either a bird, or even a 

 feather. My second barrel however was more effective, 

 and one toppled over, but it was only winged, and 

 when I went to pick it up, it had disappeared. 



To lose a florikan, then to miss a lot of guinea 

 fowl, then to fail to find a bird knocked over, were 

 enough to " rile " a saint, and I felt about as amiable 

 as a bear with a sore head. I commenced to search 

 about in every direction, using two of the natives 

 with me as beaters. Presently we started the lesser 

 bustard, which had been hiding in a small clump of 

 long grass, and it ran for its life, so closely pursued by 

 the native that I could not fire, but gave chase too, 

 thinking it might turn and give me a shot ; but it 

 went straight on and disappeared, and the African 

 got a header into a blind nullah. Seeing him dis- 

 appear head over heels, I pulled up just in time to 

 avoid a similar fate. Turning sharply off to the right, 

 I ran along the banks of the nullah looking out for 

 some declivity by which I could descend to its bed, 

 but I had to go some little way before I could find 

 the means of crossing. I then saw a tiny path made 

 probably by some of the small antelope so common 

 in this part of Africa ; it ended at the bottom, at 



