HUNTING IN AFRICA 117 



not to be done, any more, in a few weeks. Even to get 

 good specimens of such beautiful antelope as the common 

 Grant, Thompson's gazelle, Impala bushbuck, Gnu, or 

 oryx, will, in all likelihood require many weeks of conscien- 

 tious work. Lion go by luck, you may hear them nightly 

 and rarely see them by day. Nine times out of ten you 

 may take every precaution, mount the ridges slowly, use 

 intelligently your gunboy's splendid eyes, as well as your 

 own inferior ones, they will see you first. In that case 

 you have no chance, unless you are on fairly good riding 

 ground and have a sufficiently good pony to bring them to 

 bay. This is all true of rhino with presentable horns. 

 He takes much trouble to find. Good men have spoored 

 buffalo for a month without getting a shot, and elephant 

 no man can count on. 



So I cannot advise anyone to attempt to get a good 

 collection of heads, or to hope to see African wild game at 

 all thoroughly, unless he can spare six months at least for 

 the trip. For a serious trip then, how should you go ? 

 I have no hesitation in saying that there is little danger 

 likely to attend it, if you secure the backing of an experi- 

 enced hunter, on whose shooting and nerve you can depend 

 in a tight place. I also have no less hesitation in saying 

 that a man who is not reasonably a master of his nerve 

 and weapon, is foolish to attempt dangerous game, alone. 

 Then, it must be remembered, that sometimes, especially 

 in the case of the plentiful and unaccountable rhino, 

 vicious game may attack him, and is sure to do so when 

 he least expects it. Reliable hunters knowing the country, 

 who will not take the tyro when he ought not to go, are to 

 be had. Mr. Hoey, of Eldama Ravine, is one of the 

 best. Mr. Cunningham is another, Newland, Carlton 

 Company, can supply several more. 



I am far from wishing to exaggerate the danger of the 

 wild beast. I believe that, from a variety of causes, this 



