PROWLERS OF THE PLAINS 69 



second we thought a rhino had charged us. The 

 eland is the largest of all African antelope, a full- 

 grown bull probably weighing as much as eighteen 

 hundred pounds, while he stands about six feet at 

 the withers. The cows are somewhat smaller, but in 

 spite of their great size they are among the most 

 graceful of all animals. I have often watched them 

 kicking up their heels in play, leaping over each other 

 without apparent effort. 



An hour or so after crossing the plain we found the 

 road and started toward camp, which was reached 

 after several hours of fighting the mud and rain 

 that now broke upon us in full force. Upon arrival 

 there we found that Mike had retiu*ned with supphes 

 and some mail, which, of course, was exceedingly 

 welcome. The balance of the evening was spent in 

 reading letters and discussing plans for securing some 

 film of a Masai manyatta. 



We had been making a film story around the Masai, 

 for which we needed pictures of their cattle within the 

 protective boma. These people build an oblong in- 

 closure of thorn walls about eight feet high, inside of 

 which the huts are placed with their entrances facing 

 toward the center. The framework of these rude 

 shelters is built from small Hmbs, the whole being 

 plastered over with cow dung. It is necessary to 

 stoop in order to crawl through the four-foot-high 

 opening, and the inside is as crude as the outside. 

 Within there is a small wall separating the young 

 calves from the young Masais, with two built-in bed- 

 steads covered with skins. Between them is a space 

 for the fire, with barely room enough for the family 

 to gather about. These shelters are usually four- 



