148 



ON SAFARI 



discomfort for ever. Wliy does lie not move an inch 

 inland ? No, that is not his way ; so the pair depart 

 to seek more convenient cjuarters elsewhere. Mean- 

 while, a score of long-legged stilts have arrived. These 

 are not somnolent, but set to work busily in search of 

 breakfast, wading and dabbling among the floating 

 water-weeds. 



" Far away beyond, on the open water, the mirage has 

 hitherto distorted every o])ject. I have been watching 

 some great white things that I thought were swans, and 

 was wondering how they got here. Now, as the sunlight 



FLAMINGOES FLIGHTIXG. 



strengthens, I see they are pelicans asleep on a shallow, 

 and there is a line of flamingoes beyond. Presently a 

 rushing of water sets me alert, and a hippo cow swims 

 rapidly past not twenty yards away, with her toto 

 easily keeping pace. I do not shoot, and they disappear 

 round the point quite unconscious of the danger they 

 have just incurred. A family party of five — one huge 

 bull, with two cows and two totos — lie basking near a low 

 rocky islet 200 yards out. For two hours I watched 

 them, but they came no nearer. Then shots resound 

 from beyond the point, so we arise, stretch, and go on 



to find A watching a hippo bull apparently in the 



throes of its death-flurry." 



While encamped here, on the Karriendoos, one of 



