THE SEFARI 43 



tawny heads led by a veritable black maned king, go safely 

 loping off in a level country, while you gaze helplessly at 

 them through your glasses, that dark mane falling, as it 

 seems to your longing eyes, almost to the ground almost 

 sure, too, to fall a prize to some lucky fellow who brings 

 ponies along, and has only been weeks in the country 

 to your months. Well, I fear green jealousy is a mortal 

 sin, but if ever it be mercifully counted a venal, it is under 

 such circumstances. I have been tempted, and have, I 

 fear, sadly fallen. Next trip to save my soul, I will sacri- 

 fice my pocket, and get me two ponies and a Somali rider. 



One of the most delightful things about sefari life is 

 that there should be no hurry in it, and I fear I shall be 

 accused of wasting much time, as I seem to dally with 

 my black family. But all I can say is, there shall be pur- 

 pose in my digressions, and if I take a zigzag path to reach 

 my camping ground, I only do what every sefari does. 



No tribe, native to this part of Africa, except the un- 

 approachable N'dorobo, of whom more anon, compare 

 as hunters with the Wakamba. Two or three at least 

 of these should find places in your little company. They 

 will turn out willingly in the evening, even after a hard 

 day's march, and search for fresh "sign " for you. They will 

 assist your gunbearer in skinning out heads, or preparing 

 hides and bird skins, and from among them you can most 

 probably secure a second gunboy if you have not already 

 engaged one. They are very clannish, and it is better 

 to have a small group of them, than only one or two. 



And this leads me to say a few words about that friend, 

 companion, guide, and mentor, the gunboy. As in Ireland 

 so in East Africa, everyone young and old, as soon as he 

 can talk and as long as he can totter, is a "boy/' 



Your gunboy should have many qualities he must 

 have one. He must stand. Now that is the one thing 

 it is generally hard to get him to do, and considering how 



