HINTS ON EAST AFRICAN STALKING, ETC. 201 



none of them showed the slightest signs of fear until after I 

 had gone by them, when the wind exposed the deception. 



The next day I approached a large herd of some thirty-five 

 G. Grantii, got within 40 yards, and killed the best buck, a 

 magnificent beast, in spite of three or four does which stood 

 within 25 yards of me. After the shot, instead of reveal- 

 ing myself, I picked up the neck of the ostrich, which I 

 had been obliged to drop in order to take the shot, and rushed 

 after the retreating herd. When they stopped after going about 

 600 yards, the feigned alarm of the ostrich was apparently 

 so real that they allowed me to run straight up to within 60 

 yards of them. However, I was so pumped from the run, 

 and tired by the first long walk up to the herd in a cramped 

 and stooping position, trying to assimilate my height to that of 

 an ostrich's body, that I was very unsteady, and a shot at the 

 next best buck missed him clean, and away went the herd. 



I have only twice tried sitting over a water-hole or other 

 drinking place, a method perhaps less sporting than any other, 

 although a very favourite way of killing game in South Africa in 

 former days ; and my attempts at this form of sport met with 

 such poor success that I know little or nothing about it. There 

 can be no doubt but that the Kilimanjaro district and such- 

 like places are not favourable to this form of shooting, as there 

 is so much water about, that game cannot be relied upon to 

 drink at the same place two nights running. To be successful, 

 water should be scarce, and there should certainly not be a 

 running stream, with its numerous and well-used drinking- 

 places, within at least eight or ten miles of the place to 

 be watched. Although my two attempts were failures, this 

 plan would no doubt be well worth trying, more especially 

 when there were lions about. Other game, such as rhinoceroses, 

 buffaloes, and various antelopes, if not to be found- on their 

 feeding grounds in the open at daylight, can be tracked into 

 the bush, &c. The spoor of a lion, however, excepting in soft 

 ground, is so difficult to see that it is almost useless to attempt 

 to follow it. 



