THE LIONS OF TANGANYIKA 89 



Tanganyika gold mines were our guests at different 

 times and were taken to watch our lion troop perform. 

 The EngUsh party did not see them at their best, for 

 they came before the hons were our friends. The 

 Americcins, however, got a real thrill as well as a rare 

 treat, and when the gold mine folks came along, they 

 beheld the sight of six hons coming out to meet us and 

 then sitting around within a few feet waiting for us 

 to explain the day's business. The Enghshmen thought 

 it was "topping," the Americans "wonderful," while 

 the gold miners said it did not seem possible, but 

 since they had seen it with their own eyes it must be 

 true. One of them had shot a Hon that morning and 

 now talked of it in an apologetic way. 



Next day we motored to Kihmafeza to secure a few 

 supphes of flour, jam, milk, and other items. I had 

 made arrangements at the mine whereby they would 

 let us have anytliing they could spare, provided we 

 replaced things when our supply truck came back from 

 Nairobi. Between our camp and the mine it was 

 necessary to cross tliree dry river beds; the first being 

 the Serra Nyiro, and the second the same stream after 

 it had taken a bend. This second ford was called the 

 "Baboon Crossing," because we never approached it 

 without coming upon a troop of noisy baboons. Be- 

 tween here and the Benogi rolled a beautiful veldt, 

 surrounded on tliree sides by hills through which our 

 trail wound in and out among clusters of thorn bushes 

 and wild sisal. This place was Hterally ahve with the 

 graceful and shy dik-dik. These diminutive httle 

 animals are true antelopes, though no larger than a 

 hare. As their flesh is very fine eating, I killed a pair 

 with my shotgun, adding them to a greater bustard, 



