HUNTING IN AFRICA 129 



the crashing of the bushes, a few yards away, as he 

 charged off, and not at me! 



Mr. A , of the Chicago Field Museum, a first-class 



shot and hunter, tracked buffalo for two months in this 

 country before he secured what he wanted. If you have 

 time and patience, and wait till you get a fair chance, and 

 so can choose your head, you are reasonably sure, for years 

 to come, to be able to secure, what I think is the best trophy 

 that Africa can yield you. 



Professional hunters have always made use of the 

 local native for elephant hunting. These were commonly 

 sent off to look for fresh "sign," or to locate herds, the 

 ivory hunter staying in camp till reliable news was brought 

 to him. This is really almost the only way to secure big 

 ivory, and it means that for a considerable time, all other 

 hunting and travelling must be foregone. Personally, I 

 never cared enough for an elephant to do it. The waiting 

 may be for long, and the wooded country you are obliged 

 to wait in is dreary in the extreme. Of course, sefaris 

 may, and do, happen on to elephant. I have done so three 

 several times, and twice have been able to stalk close up 

 to the herd. But in none of those three cases was there 

 a big tusker in the lot. The game regulations now forbid 

 any elephant to be shot carrying less than sixty pounds 

 of ivory to the two tusks. Now there is no reason why a 

 much more frequent use of local native help should not be 

 made, when other game than elephant is sought. But 

 very few sportsmen think of doing so. If you want lion, 

 try and reach the neighbouring N'dorobo, or Massai or 

 Kikuyu, tell them they are sure of "bakshish" if they 

 show you a fresh and undisturbed "kill." The "undis- 

 turbed" part of the bargain is all important, for if they, 

 as they are apt to do, go first up to the carcass, and cut 

 off some of the meat, or, if you are in Kikuyu land, and they 

 set snares for the birds (these snares are very cleverly laid, 



