ONE AFRICAN DAY 193 



cannibal. As we left the camp, situated about 

 200 yards from the river, we immediately encoun- 

 tered a great herd of Thomson's Gazelle, numbering 

 at least two hundred. There were some good heads 

 amongst them, far better than are ever seen in the 

 northern plains, but as I passed them slowly in review 

 they drifted with little runs to either side. I made 

 for a high ant-hill close by, from which I could 

 secure a view of the game in front. What a 

 wonderful sight it was ! We have often read of 

 the marvellous assemblage of animals in the Free 

 State plains once seen by the hunter, but now gone, 

 and some people seem to think that all that was 

 best has vanished for ever. But that is not the 

 case. Could some pessimists have seen, as we 

 did during the next month, the great herds of 

 game found between the Amala River and the 

 old German border, they would have had cause to 

 alter their dismal views. Here was Africa un- 

 touched, and still as prolific in wild life as it was a 

 hundred years ago. Man the destroyer had not 

 yet made his mark. There were no natives, except 

 a few wandering Masai, who never touched the 

 game, and perhaps only once a year some wandering 

 hunter came for a month or two and shot a few 

 heads. It was just Africa, as we who love the 

 wilds and its game had wished to see it. Every- 

 thing was as we had hoped, and for once our dreams 

 came true. 



One day, some weeks later, when on trek, Pullar, 

 Judd and I sat on the slope of some lovely hills 

 near the old German border and looked over the 

 exquisite landscape of hill and plain, now fresh 



and green from recent showers, 

 o 



