HUNTING ELEPHANT AND RIDING LION 161 



east of the plateau, and bends in a wide sweep round the 

 southern base of Mount Elgon. 



But this beautiful morning a genuine surprise awaited 

 us. The sefari, a hundred and ten strong, stepped out 

 bravely. They were as anxious as we were to reach the 

 land of abundant n yama (game). The long tramp 

 across the Mau escarpment with its cold nights and high 

 and beautiful, but gameless downs, had whetted their 

 longing for unlimited "punda" (zebra). 



We had scarcely swung out, well clear of the last vestige 

 of forest land, when a row of strange black dots caught 

 my attention far away on the right of the trail. The sun 

 was only just up, and in its earliest light the ripe grass shone 

 like gold. Against such a background these black things 

 showed up sharply. Could it be ? Yes, here, far away, 

 from woodland or cover, here is the elephant at last. We 

 could scarcely believe our eyes. Sixteen great beasts 

 moving steadily along at a pace that seemed far slower 

 than it was. No doubt they had kept to their unerring 

 course the long night through. That dangerous open 

 prairie had to be passed. From the Nandi woodlands 

 on the west they were bound to the Elgao forests on the 

 east, a march of at least thirty miles, and so well was this 

 journey timed, that in half an hour they would surely be. 

 in their desired covert. 



With curving trunk they marched along, the sun glinting^ 

 now and then on the ivories. It was a beautiful and inter- 

 esting sight. I need scarcely say that we examined that 

 dark line attentively. Were they cows and bulls, or were 

 they cows and totos only? Alas! not a bull in the lot! 

 It was a sad disappointment, for here in the open, had 

 there been "tuskers," there was no escape for them. It 

 was the fourth time I had had a good view of elephant, 

 but not once had there been a good tusk in the herd. 

 Once we were satisfied that there was nothing there for us, 



