74 BIG GAMP: SHOOTING 



hand of the fowler. They stood stupefied and crestfallen, and 

 the waggons moved on without a word or sign of opposition. 

 I brought up the rear with the loose oxen and horses. We had 

 gained 300 or 400 yards from the camping ground, which was 

 still in sight, when I heard the sound of running behind me, 

 and turning saw a man coming on at the top of his speed after 

 us. He threw up his hands to show he was carrying no arms, 

 and I grounded my gun and waited for him. ' What is it ? ' 

 ' I am sent by the chief to take you wherever you like to go ! ' 

 ' Lead on to the Bakaa then ! ' and thus ended our first and 

 only difficulty with the natives. 



On our arrival we found this people in a pitiable state ; 

 the crops had failed, and they were starving. The chief 

 welcomed us warmly, asked what we had come for, and on 

 receiving answer to hunt elephants, besought us to take his 

 people and feed them, putting his country and his services 

 at our disposal. On condition that his people during their 

 stay with me were to be my people, I accepted 600 men, 

 women, and children in the most terrible state of starvation. 

 No white man, emaciated as these poor fellows were, could 

 have walked ten yards the two bones in the lower arm and 

 leg were distinctly visible, and you could see them working in 

 the joints and attachments ; in truth, nearly the whole party 

 were bones covered with skin, and poor skin too, for from 

 poverty of blood you could hardly have found a sound patch 

 large enough to lay a crown piece on. The chief introduced 

 three of the head men to me, and bade me hold them respon- 

 sible for the rest, and I did and never had the very slightest 

 trouble. 



We started for the hunting grounds next morning, and were 

 among the elephants in a day or two. There have been dis- 

 cussions as to who is king among the beasts, and to this day 

 the lion is generally given the title. But look down that narrow 

 game-track. A lion is coming up it from the water. As he 

 turns the curve in the winding path he sees that a rhinoceros 

 or buffalo is coming down to drink. He slinks into the bush, 



