166 SPORT IN THE EASTERN SUDAN 



insisted that the two reports would have frightened 

 all idea of mischief out of the crocodiles' heads. 

 An ariel was seen in the distance on the way back to 

 camp. In the afternoon I cleaned the oribi's head, and 

 went fishing in the evening, catching nothing but 

 two river-tortoises, and breaking my rod across, 

 where it had been sprung, in striking the latter. 



February 20th. Moved camp with the intention of 

 making a long march to Kellalab, but as within 

 the first mile I saw two-days-old tracks of buffalo, 

 and a few miles further tracks quite fresh, I 

 waited for the caravan to come up, taking out my 

 heavy rifles, and then told my men to stop at Zuhani, 

 a village 3 miles further. We then took up the 

 trail of the buffaloes, which A. followed in first-rate 

 fashion for about 3 miles. Then most unluckily M. 

 moved to the front, and going over a rise in the most 

 inexcusably careless fashion came in full view of the 

 herd. Even then he did not see them, although I 

 saw a large one, and two small ones over his shoulder, 

 and heard a fourth crash off. I might have taken the 

 shot at once, but strongly suspected that the larger 

 one was a cow, and before I could be certain they all 

 went off. We followed them up, but of course they 

 had left the open country for thick grass and thorn. 

 After a mile I saw the head of a large buffalo 

 peering at me through the grass 30 yards ahead, 

 but had not the least idea of the sex, so did not fire, 



