68 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



I had promised each porter half the contents of her 

 basket, so they were quite pleased and happy. They would 

 willingly have walked twice as far for the same amount of 

 their beloved nyama. In Africa meat does not keep fresh 

 for a week or more, as it does in Britain, and a day or so is 

 enough to make it too high for the European's use. When 

 well cooked it lasts a bit longer, but four or five days is as 

 much as it will stand, even in June and July when the nights 

 are quite chilly. 



On October 3 I went off for another shoot to Maponda's 

 village, as I had heard that the elephants were back 

 again to that locality. However, I might have saved 

 myself the trouble, for I could find no recent elephant 

 spoor, as the animals were evidently still suffering from 

 fright. 



On the 4th I walked a long distance and came on a large 

 herd of sable antelopes. Most of them were feeding in some 

 fairly long grass, though a few were lying down. With 

 some difficulty I got to within shooting distance, and from 

 the back of an anthill I was able to watch these splendid 

 animals for some time. This herd consisted of quite twenty- 

 five head, and the only bull I could see was in the worst 

 position for a shot, as is often the case. He was not a very 

 large animal, and I thought there might be another bull 

 somewhere about. I needed the meat for myself and the 

 men, so I fired at a cow which was lying down and which 

 presented a good shot. I may say that, unless a lying 

 animal shows up fairly well, it is usually a mistake to fire 

 at one in this position, although there is the advantage 

 of knowing the game will not likely move when one is 

 aiming, as a standing beast will often do. The sable got the 

 bullet and half rolled over with the shock, but recovered 

 herself and jumped up and bolted. I knew she was as good 

 as dead, as I was steady, so I looked round for the bull I 

 supposed to be about. 



Sure enough, he appeared from behind a large anthill 

 covered with long grass, and I fired a shot at him and 

 heard the bullet strike, but he went off strongly. 



