HINTS ON EAST AFRICAN STALKING, ETC. 195 



day than in the cool of the morning. In the matter of physical 

 exertion, however, the later stalks are much the most trying and 

 fatiguing. Anyone who has done many long and tedious stalks 

 will, I think, admit that being compelled to crawl two or three 

 hundred yards, or more, flat on his stomach in the bare open 

 plains (where game is generally most plentiful) is terribly trying 

 work during the heat of the day. What with the sun pouring 

 down on the back and nape of the neck, and the scorching 

 heat of the ground striking upwards into the face, together 

 with the burnt grass dust, &c., which get into the mouth and 

 nostrils, and nearly choke him in his desperate efforts to prevent 

 coughing or sneezing, such a stalk requires not only, great 

 physical endurance, but the most stoical patience on the part 

 of the stalker. Moreover, stalks under such trying circum- 

 stances (and they are by no means uncommon), even though 

 they may be successful, are apt to end in a splitting headache, 

 which may develop into an attack of fever, and knock the 

 sportsman out of time for several days. 



And there is yet another argument in favour of early stalks, 

 altogether apart from their advantages from a stalker's point of 

 view, and this is that for a few hours after dawn Nature is at her 

 very best. The air is deliciously cool, and as it is clear, except- 

 ing at certain seasons and at high altitudes, everything stands 

 out sharp and well defined, and all the surrounding scenery 

 is seen to the best advantage. If the sportsman is, as he ought 

 to be, anything of a naturalist, he will see all nature under the 

 most interesting aspects. Besides the various species of big 

 game to be met with, he will observe many of the nocturnal 

 animals still abroad after their night's peregrinations, and these 

 he will see at no other time. He will see the ubiquitous hyaena, 

 as he slinks along across the plain to his hiding-place, and will 

 be able to form no other opinion of him than that he is a 

 skulking, contemptible-looking brute, and will possibly feel a 

 desire to have a shot at him, but will refrain from doing so, 

 knowing that he is not worth a bullet, that the shot may 

 disturb better game, and that, after all, the beast does little 



