INTO THE GREAT RIFT 217 



While we were talking, Maniki came in with the 

 information that many elephants were near. Going 

 out to the edge of the camp, I counted over one hun- 

 dred of these ponderous beasts. Through the glasses, 

 I watched the herd, which was less than a mile away, 

 as they milled about and blew dust into the air. 



Camp Legumukum was situated near a running 

 stream, approximately midway between the two lakes 

 of Baringo and Hannington, the latter being some 

 twelve miles south and Baringo seven miles north. On 

 January twenty-ninth we went on an inspection tour 

 to Lake Hannington. I was anxious to see with my 

 own eyes the wondrous sight which had been 

 described to me by a previous visitor to this remote 

 section. For many weeks I had been looking forward 

 to the gorgeous spectacle presented by the tremendous 

 multitude of flamingos, which for untold centuries have 

 painted acres of this African lake with vivid patches 

 of pink and scarlet. We had been told it was impos- 

 sible to reach the place by truck but, although the 

 country we traversed was enough to discourage almost 

 anyone, we continued on over sharp rocks, winding 

 our way up and down hills, crossing deep guUies, until 

 we finally succeeded in approaching within sight of 

 this tranquil water, which, like a huge mirror, reflected 

 on its surface fleecy clouds wliich were leisurely float- 

 ing overhead through an azure sky. 



Long before our fkst glimpse of the lake, we heard 

 a roar like that of a distant waterfall or the whistling 

 of wind through a dense forest. My N jemps guide 

 said it was the noise of the flamingos and we found 

 this to be so. The commotion from these millions of 

 birds produced one continuous sound which increased 



