With Flashlight and Rifle -* 



initiative of the Prince. In such moments one gets to 

 know and appreciate one's comrades better than one might 

 in years of companionship at home. 



We gave up all hope of coming again upon the lions 

 we had observed. When we sighted them they had just 

 been tearing a hen-ostrich to pieces (as I found the day 

 after), but they did not return to its carcase. 



My ornithological collection had been appreciably 

 expanding, and now included a considerable number of 

 prepared skins and eggs. Slowly following the course 

 of the stream, we gradually drew closer to Kilimanjaro. 



Now, towards the end of March, the approaching 

 rainy season the " Masika mkubwa "- gave signs of 

 its coming. We came in for a tremendous storm one 

 night, which deluged our camp in a few minutes and 

 filled our tent with water. The thunder crashed above 

 us, the atmosphere was charged with electricity. No 

 one who has not experienced a tropical storm in the 

 desert can form any impression of this marvellous, 

 phenomenon. 



A series of forced marches over the now sodden marsh- 

 land brought us to the Kahe district, a small oasis 

 of cultivation in the midst of the velt at the foot of 

 Kilimanjaro. 



My old friend of former years, the chief, had been 

 murdered. His successor did not seem to me to have 

 much authority. 



On arriving at the station of Moshi on Kilimanjaro,, 

 we found that my friend Captain Merker, who received 

 us most cordially, was just on the point of going back to 



78 



