THE eusH. 161 



continually thinking how to circumvent it, and bearing in mind the direction and 

 changes of the wind, and a host of other things. This affords an excitement and 

 a pleasure unknown and unobtainable on the plains. 



The usual animals frequenting bush-country are : — 



Elephant. Waterbuck. Lion. 



Rhino. Impala. Leopard. 



Buffalo. Bushbuck. Bushpig. 



Eland. Dikdik. 



The rarer inhabitants are : — 



Waller's gazelle. 

 Zanzibar suni. 

 Forest-hog. 



Of the different bush-countries, the Ngong Forest, near Nairobi (part of which 

 is bush-country), contains all the animals mentioned in the first list with the 

 exception of the elephant and the eland. Of these two, the former, I am told, used 

 to exist near Ngong Mountain, but now is no longer to be seen there. Nearly 

 all this country is now included in the reserve. 



Then there is the bush-country of the floor of the Rift Valley, between the 

 Mau and Kikuyu escarpments ; and there is also some very pleasant bush-country 

 round the upper Kedong stream and under Kijabi, and towards Mount Lonongot. 

 It is in this country that the famous gas-hole is situated, a pit which exhales 

 poisonous fumes. The bones of many buffalo which may be seen strewn round 

 testify to this pit's dangerous nature to these animals. 



All the animals on the first list may be had in these parts, and, in addition^ 

 there are a few greater kudu if you can find them. Elephants, as a rule, are not 

 found, but very occasionally pass by on their way to the Mau escarpment or else- 

 where. Rhino, from all accounts and judging from the number of skulls lying 

 about, used at one time to be numerous, but they have either been considerably 

 thinned down or have betaken themselves to the escarpments. 



All round the foot of the mountains, generally known as Kinangop and the 

 Aberdare range, is a belt of bush-country, and a similar country is found on 

 " the moors " on the top. There wander rhino, bushbuck, and Harvey's duiker, 

 but little else in the way of game. 



Round Nyeri, and especially northwards, north-west and north-east, is some 



pleasant bush-country lying under the Aberdares, or the Simbara and 0-Satima 



Mountains, and along the border of the Laikipia Plains. In these sections of bush 



are found the usual bush animals, and, in addition, a few lesser kudu and a few 



Y 



