_ HINTS ON EAST AFRICAN STALKING, ETC. 195 
_ day than in the cool of the morning. Inthe matter of physical 
__ exertion, however, the later stalks are much the most trying and 
fatiguing. Anyone who has done many long and tedious stalks 
will, I think, admit that being compelled to crawl two or three 
hundred yards, or more, flat on his stomach in the bare open 
plains (where game is generally most plentiful) is terribly trying 
work during the heat of the day. What with the sun pouring 
down on the back and nape of the neck, and the scorching 
heat of the ground striking upwards into the face, together 
_ with the burnt grass dust, &c., which get into the mouth and 
__ nostrils, and nearly choke him in his desperate efforts to prevent 
coughing or sneezing, such a stalk requires not only great 
physical endurance, but the most stoica] patience on the part 
of the stalker. Moreover, stalks under such trying circum- 
stances (and they are by no means uncommon), even though 
_ they may be successful, are apt to end in a splitting headache, 
_ which may develop into an attack of fever, and knock the 
_ sportsman out of time for several days. 
‘ And there is yet another argument in favour of early stalks, 
- altogether apart from their advantages from a stalker’s point of 
_ view, and this is that for a few hours after dawn Nature is at her 
_ verybest. The air is deliciously cool, and as it is clear, except- 
_ ing at certain seasons and at high altitudes, everything stands 
_ out sharp and well defined, and all the surrounding scenery 
_ is seen to the best advantage. If the sportsman is, as he ought 
_ to be, anything of a naturalist, he will see all nature under the 
- most interesting aspects. Besides the various species of big 
_ game to be met with, he will observe many of the nocturnal 
_ animals still abroad after their night’s peregrinations, and these 
he will see at no other time. He will see the ubiquitous hyzena, 
as he slinks along across the plain to his hiding-place, and will 
be able to form no other opinion of him than that he is a 
skulking, contemptible-looking brute, and will possibly feel a 
desire to have a shot at him, but will refrain from doing so, 
knowing that he is not worth a bullet, that the shot may 
disturb better game, and that, after all, the beast does little 
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