STALKING IN THE NYIKA 



expressing consternation and fear. They implore me 

 not to go farther on this dangerous ground, which 

 even the Wandorobbo and Wakamba avoid. But I in- 

 sist on going on, making, however, a very important 

 concession for the sake of my own safety as well as 

 theirs. To scare the animals away which may block 

 our path, I discharge my rifle at long intervals. In 

 spite of this sacrifice of valuable ammunition, I am al- 

 most run down by three rhinoceroses, who refuse to be 

 scared by my shooting. Two I kill by lucky shots in 

 the neck, the third, fortunately, does not charge, but 

 runs away. 



Now my natives positively refuse to go on, and I, 

 myself, am completely unnerved. We descend into a 

 glen to spend the night near a small brook. Suddenly 

 the clouds, which have been floating in the blue sky, 

 gather for a short time and discharge their surplus 

 moisture in a shower. A big fire is lighted to keep off 

 rhinoceroses and other animals, and all of us except 

 the guards lie down to rest. The fatigues of the day 

 and the pure and cool mountain air soon put us soundly 

 to sleep, Ijut two or three times during the night we are 

 rudely awakened by the snort of rhinoceroses which 

 seem to resent our intrusion into their domain. 



Next morning we start on our way back to the camp 

 down the precipitous southern slope of the mountain. 

 I observe the gradual transition of the mountain fauna 

 and flora into those of the steppe. We come down to 



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