<+> Stalking Expeditions in the Xyika 



already once covered his blood-tracks, has likewise been 

 going forward, though still on three legs. 



Long ago I made it a rule to myself always, even 

 here in Africa, to follow upon a trail which has been 

 once entered upon, so long as it holds and pursuit is 

 possible. So we go on for another league into the 

 desert, when at last the sharp eyes of my bearer 

 catch sight, he thinks, of our quarry, moving forward 

 slowly about a mile or so in front of us. And he is not 

 mistaken. As we proceed I note several places where the 

 hunted animal has made a halt, and lost a good deal of 

 blood ; two splinters of bone are also found. Now begins 

 a monotonous tract of sueda-bushes ; covered by them, 

 and leaving my people far behind, I succeed in getting 

 up very quickly to the gnu and delivering a well-placed 

 finishing-shot. My carriers hasten up. A number of 

 them, under my direction, cautiously skin the dead animal ; 

 the skin and head, with the horns, are taken back to the 

 camp, there to be carefully dressed and preserved. Other 

 carriers are sent home with the. flesh. 



Round the remains of the gnu, after we have.' withdrawn 

 a little distance, a number of vultures and marabous 

 soon gather. Already, for a long time, a fork-tailed 

 kite (Milvns (Cg\f>tui$] has been hovering over us. con- 

 tinually approaching within a lew yards. These' birds 

 follow one constantly, knowing that they may count upon 

 coming by some boot}' in this way. Presently two others 

 make their appearance, and as the}' swoop to the ground 

 and begin to pick up little bits of meat, there is a 

 rushing sound in the air, and, down Irom the clouds, 



vol.. ii. 573 14 



