334 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



entertainment for all lovers of the chase. When, how- 

 ever, Mr. Elkington and Capt. Riddell, as joint 

 masters, took over the pack in 1908 the hunt was first 

 placed on a definite basis. The old bobbery pack, 

 though eminently serviceable, was dispersed and drafts 

 of first-rate hounds obtained from home, mainly owing 

 to the kindness of Lord Leconfield and Mr. Greswolde 

 Williams. Fine airy stone kennels were built and a 

 suitable stud of hunt horses provided. 



The pack is a subscription pack — though it is to be 

 feared that the joint masters have often to dip some- 

 what deeply into their own pockets — consisting of some 

 fifteen to twenty couples, and hunt twice a week 

 throughout the two seasons, which are formed by the 

 two rainy periods and as long afterwards as the state 

 of ground and scent allow. The usual hour of the 

 meet is 6.30 a.m., at which early hour scent naturally is 

 best, and Sunday morning gives the largest attendance, 

 since it is on that day only that Government servants 

 and business men can regularly afford the time. Jackal 

 and duiker are hunted and provide first-rate sport, 

 perhaps the latter more particularly. The country 

 consists mainly of rolling downs and plains interspersed 

 with cultivation and patches of trees and bush, though 

 occasionally hounds run right into the Ngong forest. 

 A handy pony is the right mount, as there is not a 

 great deal of jumping, but a good deal of clambering 

 up and down dongas and nullahs. He must not be 

 slow, however, as from time to time hounds run un- 

 commonly fast and there are few if any fences to 

 check their speed. The hounds on the whole do 

 fairly well, but naturally require more attention than 

 at home. Tick fever is the great evil with which they 

 have to contend, and a good many valuable hounds 



