* Stalking Expeditions in the Xyika 



But this time I could not prevent the four armed Askans 

 who were with me from likewise firing off their rifles in 

 their terror, and after that my people would not stir a 

 step further with me. Curiously enough, I was able to 

 point out to them distinctly, on the carcases of the rhi- 

 noceroses, that their Mauser bullets had entirely missed 

 their aim ; only one had hit. but too far back, and not on 

 a vital part. 



I frankly confess that my own nerves somewhat gave 

 way, and that a certain fury against the pachyderms took 

 hold of me. These feelings were coupled with one of 

 distress at being obliged to slay so uselessly, and 

 therefore I sought in one: of the wooded, brook-threaded 

 valleys a place to sleep for the night. 'I o my surprise, 

 clouds had been gathering for some time tor even in the 

 dry season this lofty chain of mountains can condense a 

 certain quantity of moisture. Suddenly there splashed 

 down from the gloomy pile a short but heavy local shower, 

 which did not, of course, fall upon the thirsty vclt. but 

 only on the high peaks of this mountain-region. 



As suddenly as the ram be^an it has ceased. A big 

 lire is kindled from a lot of dry twigs, and I cii)oy a 

 refreshing bath in a pool formed by a forest-stream, and 

 shaped like the arena of a circus. But the first thing 

 to be done is to destroy in different ways the rhinoceros 

 tracks, which cross each other from every side of the 

 valley. This is achieved to within some hundred paces 

 of our encampment, and everywhere around the \\ando- 

 robo who are with me cast their spells, to keep away 

 rhinoceroses and other animals at night. 



V( >!.. II. 02 I 17 



