ELEPHANT 187 



consequently, are but poor hunters, we could not distinguish 

 them from the Pukka N'dorobo of the Cherangang range, 

 who are the very best hunters in all the country, and who 

 know every corner of it. These, however, on the other 

 hand, are so shy of strangers that you must have secured 

 the strongest of introductions to get near them at all. They 

 are watching you, you may be sure of that. They keep 

 themselves well informed of all your movements, but 

 beyond, perhaps, the casual glimpse of a black dot of a head, 

 seen for an instant only above the grass or over a rock, 

 so far as you are concerned they might be non-existent. 



The help of real wild men hunters, it is no exaggeration 

 to say, at least doubles your chances of success. Promise 

 them a blanket, or a goat or two, and they will be off at dawn, 

 and stay away all night; and if the great game is either feed- 

 ing or travelling in your vicinity, you will in all probability 

 learn of it from them. Stay in camp till you have reliable 

 news, but be ready for a hurried departure at the shortest 

 notice and once you are on fresh spoor, with capable 

 trackers, follow on! follow on! The nights in the warm 

 season, when the grass is long, and elephant come down 

 from the mountains, and out from the impenetrable forests 

 to feed, are most pleasant. It is no hardship to sleep out. 

 You have your saddle blanket, and your men quickly put 

 up for you a grass hut, giving complete shelter. Carry 

 always some biscuits in your saddle bag, and a little salt, 

 as well as a bit of dried meat. Thus prepared, a night out 

 is a pleasure, and after it you will look forward with renewed 

 zest to camp luxuries of coffee and steaming hot bath, when 

 you do get in. 



Of course, there are lucky men who happen on elephant 

 that seem to know they are to be killed anyway, and help 

 their pursuers to do it. Elephant will at times come down 

 to a swamp and refuse, even by gun fire, to be driven from it. 

 They will stand to be shot down, and do all sorts of 



