276 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



scruples, but on account of its causing a rash, a kind of herpes, 

 of a most irritating nature to break out upon them. My 

 head gun-bearer, Ramazan, and some of the porters once 

 suffered for a fortnight after eating the meat of the first giraffe 

 I shot, when there had been no other meat in camp for three 

 or four days previously. He assured me that it is a well-known 

 fact that it affects some men and not others. 



The meat of the lesser kudu also affects certain constitutions 

 only, but in a different way, as it acts as a salivant, and causes 

 great pain in the mouth and gums. Several times my tent-boy, 

 Sadala, was unable to eat anything but a little rice for some 

 days after eating the meat of this beast. I mention these 

 facts solely to induce sportsmen to avoid shooting these 

 beautiful beasts (except as trophies) when meat is required 

 for the men and other game is to be obtained. The marrow- 

 bones of a giraffe, which are considered by some epicure 

 sportsmen to be the greatest delicacy in Africa, not excepting 

 elephant's heart, I have always found very inferior to those 

 of the eland, or even the buffalo. 



Amongst the places where I have seen the giraffe in fair 

 numbers are the caravan routes between Vanga and Teita, 

 especially at Adda and Kisagao, and between Ndara in Teita, 

 and Nzoi in Ukambani, particularly near Ndi, Mto Ndai, 

 and Mto Chumvi. In 1887 the open bush and sparsely mi- 

 mosa-wooded country just outside Taveta forest, on the road 

 to Langora, was a sure find for these stately beasts. 



Unless giraffes are found in ground fairly well wooded with 

 mimosa and other trees, with also a fair undergrowth of bush, 

 there is little chance of approaching to within range of them ; 

 but if found in such covert, and not too much scattered, the 

 stalker, by dodging from bush to bush and by being careful to 

 keep the thickly foliaged crown of a mimosa or othertree between 

 the beast and himself, ought with ordinary care to have little 

 difficulty in getting a shot. If an Express rifle is used on these 

 beasts, it must only be with solid bullets, as their hide is very 

 thick and tough. Personally I prefer an 8-bore. 



