THE LAST SEFARI 42I 



country, a dimpled country in whose slight folds and hol- 

 lows a quite dense native population dwells. This is the 

 present granary of the land, yet you cannot make out a 

 village, you can scarcely see a hut, and out of it Kikuyu 

 carriers, men and women, stream Nairobiwards, a thou- 

 sand at a time. 



It was the beginning of December. The lesser rains 

 had been very abundant and the country was looking 

 fresh and lovely. 



Where there is broken and hilly land in this part of 

 East Africa, the soil is good in the hollows and on the 

 hillsides. Hence the grass grows to such a length that 

 hunting is impossible. Hence again, the need of choos- 

 ing the right time in which to visit the right country. 



I have said before that in my judgment the best time 

 of all to visit East Africa is in the rainy season, which 

 generally begins with the first week in March. The old 

 grass is then burned. The new will be sprouting. Game 

 travels and can be tracked. Sefaris depart and can well 

 be spared. 



It rarely does much raining in the morning except in the 

 Naivasha district. If you are strenuous you can march 

 through it, and in spite of it you will dry off before the 

 afternoon. If you are not hurried you can wait for the 

 morning shower to pass and then march. 



In far the greater number of localities the rain only 

 begins in the afternoon, not before two, sometimes not till 

 four. In that case you will do well to have your hunting 

 and marching all over and your camp well pitched; the 

 rain will then incommode you but little. The lesser rains 

 generally come in November and December; every one 

 anxiously awaits them, for if they are abundant that means 

 a second crop for the farmer. 



The hilly country to east of Punda Melia had been well 

 burned over. The upper slopes were a fresh and vivid 



