312 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



is almost a necessity. Higher up still, from 5,000 to 6,000 ft. 

 (the altitudes of the Athi plains and vicinity of Lake Naivasha), 

 and up to 8,000 and 9,000 ft. (the altitudes of Lykepia and 

 Mau), it is quite cold at night. At Mianzini in September 

 1889 the thermometer registered 6 of frost. 



In the matter of health the amount of exercise that the sports- 

 man will have to take will do far more to keep him fit and well 

 than anything else. Care should, however, be taken to avoid 

 chills, and any unnecessary exposure to the sun, as fever con- 

 tracted up country is more often to be attributed to one of these 

 causes than to malaria. The complaints to which Europeans 

 are most liable are fever, dysentery, diarrhoea, sun headache 

 (which often develops into fever), for which Anti-pyrine is an 

 excellent remedy, and ulcerated sores from scratches and 

 abrasions. 



With regard to snakes and other noxious creatures, there 

 are many of them, and of many varieties. Most of the snakes 

 are non-poisonous, but there are several, including a species of 

 green whip-snake, a large black water- snake, a cobra, a small 

 viper, and the puff-adder, which are very poisonous. The last 

 of these, and perhaps the most deadly, is also the most common, 

 and is often met with both when out shooting and when the 

 ground is being cleared for camping. These little ' disagree- 

 ables,' however, are rarely, if ever, thought about, otherwise 

 life in East Africa would be intolerable. It is very rarely that 

 one hears of anyone being bitten, and I only know of three 

 instances, all the victims being porters, who are of course 

 more liable to such misfortunes owing to their going about 

 bare-legged. In case of an accident a bottle of ammonia 

 should always be included in the medicine-chest, and perman- 

 ganate of potash used hypodermically is also said to be an 

 excellent remedy. A syringe and glass cylinder to hold a 

 solution of the latter, fitted into a handy little pocket-case, 

 can always be carried. 



The expense of an expedition entirely depends on the 

 number of sportsmen forming the party, and on their individual 



