MY EAST AFRICAN SAFARI 



II 



The day following the unsuccessful lion-hunt was 

 a busy one, for it was devoted to the most important 

 task of the whole trip, the fitting-out of the safari or 

 caravan. Of course, most of my arrangements had 

 been made beforehand, and I had the benefit of the 

 very best local advice, but there are numberless things 

 to which one must attend personally. 



In British East Africa a caravan is known as a 

 " safari," but the word is also used as a verb, and 

 " to safari " is to go on trek with a caravan. An 

 expression with such a wide application is quite handy. 



Some details of my own safari on this trip may be 

 interesting. 



In addition to myself there was my companion, 

 William Coates, whose job it was to undertake the 

 management of the caravan, to deal with all the 

 commissariat arrangements, to " boss up " the carriers, 

 cooks, or general utility boys, and to shoot what game 

 was necessary for the pot, although the expedition was 

 is no sense a shooting trip and not a single animal was 

 to be killed needlessly. Also, he was, if necessary, 

 to remain at hand whilst I was taking pictures of 

 dangerous animals, because it is obviously impossible 

 to focus a camera and handle a rifle at one and the 

 same time. 



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