In Wildest Africa ^ 



to be found in the Masai uplands, in the form of 

 numerous hills and rock masses. These afford splendid 

 views and pictures of the animal creation to the spectator 

 who waits patiently on their summits for hours and 

 days, and has the help of good optical instruments. What 

 life and activity displays itself there before our eyes 

 under favourable circumstances ! Though the wilderness 

 may appear a desert solitude, bare and empty of all 

 life, let only a few hours go by and the sun change 

 its position a little, and already one sees movement under 

 the trees and bushes that have been till now castingr 

 deep shadows. Then with measured steps, prudently 

 regardful of their safety, all kinds of animals come forth 

 to graze. We see the different wild species appearing, 

 at first a few individuals, and soon in greater or smaller 

 herds. 



How far the eye carries in this clear transparent 

 atmosphere, and what a wide tract of country we are 

 able to overlook ! In this tropical brightness, after weeks 

 and months, and even years, I could not get rid of the 

 perplexing illusion as to distances. The tract of country 

 that my sight could command seemed alw^ays much 

 less extensive than it really was. And again, we were 

 continually being misled by shimmering reflections of the 

 air, so that we took gnus for elephants, ostriches for 

 rhinoceroses, zebras for wild asses, and we might even 

 hold to our mistaken view for a considerable time. He 

 who wants to watch the living animals in this way from 

 a lofty point of observation, must be able to keep on 

 persistently for hours. Thus only will the scene piece 



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