CHAPTER XVI 



THE LAST SEFARI 



SPORTSMEN arriving in British East Africa are natu- 

 rally in a hurry to leave the railroad and civiliza- 

 tion behind, and plunge into the wilder country as soon 

 as possible. Unless the newcomer has secured very unusu- 

 ally extensive and reliable information, or unless he has 

 placed himself in the hands of a hunter whose experience 

 and character are well known, this is a mistaken course. 



There are several professional hunters hanging round 

 Nairobi always looking out for a job, whose services are as 

 useless as they are expensive. And so many inexperienced 

 sportsmen, and others with no conscience, have for one 

 cause or another supplied these gentlemen with testimonials 

 so wholly out of keeping with facts that written recom- 

 mendations are of little use. If you have time, as I have 

 said more than once in these notes, much the best way is 

 to go out alone or with a friend on your own sefari, and 

 learn the ways of the country, its natives, and its game. 

 Afterward when you begin to know what you want, engage. 

 a professional hunter if you need him. 



If you have the good fortune to be in no great hurry, 

 do not too quickly rush away from Nairobi. It is a beau- 

 tiful and most interesting place, and in no way can you 

 learn so quickly what you want to learn, or gain so much 

 information that will prove valuable, as you can by making 

 a few short expeditions in the neighbourhood of the town. 

 Here one at least of the game rangers is to be found. These 

 officers know more about the location of game, which, by 

 the way, is constantly changing, than any one else. 



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