IX 



BY THE BROOK 



ON my fourth ioiirney in East Africa, in the autumn 

 of 1903, I encamped in the higher parts of the 

 steppe near a mountain V)r(wk, where it entered the 

 low lands, to lose itself, after a few miles, in the dry 

 ground. In its course through the lower steppe it 

 served as a drinking-place for the animals of the sur- 

 rounding region, and I could trace their paths far and 

 wide. Their number was enormous, for the dry season 

 had more and more limited the water supply. The 

 brook flowed between high grass, reeds, and thorn 

 thickets, and numerous lions had, at that time, their 

 lair near by. Forests of reeds covered its lower, dried- 

 up course. There the lions and rhinoceroses were hid- 

 ing during the day; from there, at night, they started 

 towards the brook to prey upon the animals which, 

 impelled by thirst, sought the water. 



Long strings of sand-hens come flying to the brook 

 early in the morning. Other birds follow, from the 

 smallest to the largest, and we have .a splendid oppor- 

 tunity to study the East African bird world. 



71 



