CHAPTER V 



East Africa 



I 



One of the most interesting expeditions you can 

 possibly take is to go up from Kenya Colony towards 

 the Abyssinian border, crossing the vast, waterless 

 Sambura country, where you make treks of two days 

 without seeing any water except that which you 

 carry. Still, it is the photographer's paradise, and 

 I named one place " My Little Back Room in 

 Noah's Ark," for every kind of animal conceivable 

 came down at some time of the day to drink. I made 

 my base camp some four miles away, so as not to 

 disturb them, and on the film I obtained is recorded 

 the most peaceful scene imaginable. No nervousness 

 is shown by the beasts, and this is mainly due to good 

 hide-up work. If you wish to be successful, this part 

 of the business must be done most carefully by building 

 a foot a day, so that no notice is taken when it has 

 grown to its right size and is ready for you to work 

 in, which you naturally do not attempt till a few days 

 afterwards. Elephants, who are really the makers 

 of the water-hole, took great exception at first to my 



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