250 THE LAND OF THE LION 



of probably 500,000 square miles (no one has measured 

 it yet, but such is the estimate of Mr. Gregory, one of the 

 ablest and best informed of those who have written on it). 



These things being held in mind, I would say to all who 

 come here, get all the information you can from officials, 

 then get in touch with the best natives, and then go slow 

 and take time. 



New men, new beasts, new birds and insects are round 

 you everywhere. Go out to watch and study the wild 

 life, not merely to kill it. 



Often the most interesting time in the day to me, was 

 the quiet hour or more I tried to take before the sun set. I 

 would choose a spot from which I could command a view 

 and, staying quite still, would watch. In the evening 

 I never shot unless I had to. Twice I saw at that time 

 a cautious leopard stealing round in the grass, and each 

 time I gave up my nature study to follow him, but in vain. 



Once I saw a great porcupine come out of his secret 

 hiding place, almost at my feet. Mr. F. J. Jackson, 

 perhaps the best naturalist in the country, tells me he 

 has never succeeded in seeing one, and that I had rare 

 luck. I had chosen a low rocky ridge, about two 

 miles from camp, as my goal. The sun was setting 

 gloriously over Lake Naivasha, and beneath me hundreds 

 of Grant's antelope, "Tommy," and zebra were feeding 

 quietly. 



I heard a gentle sort of rattling noise in some rocks 

 not ten yards below where I sat, and out of a big crack 

 in them a black nose peeped. He never looked above 

 him animals seldom do and when he had satisfied 

 himself that the coast was clear, out he came. The way 

 that porcupine unfolded his immense sheaf of quills was 

 a wonder. First he shot them out a little, as though he 

 were treating himself to a yawn, and then wider and wider 

 the white and black quills were spread and flattened on 



