HUNTING ON LAKE SOLAI 181 



the bush beyond ; but after beginning an offensive demon- 

 stration, we were o-lad to see retired whence he came. 

 The two rhinos carried blunt massive horns, measuring 

 around the base, No. 1, 18 ins. (front), 17 J ins. (hind), 

 and, No. 2, 18 ins. each respectively, the lengths being 

 15 and 14|- ins. 



We suffered much inconvenience and discomfort at 

 this period from heavy thunderstorms, which deluged 

 our camp every afternoon ; while owing to its marshy 

 environment, it was infested by swarms of jumping frogs, 

 which even invaded our tents. At night the display of 

 electric flash-lights in the heavens was often superb. 



Loading up our ivory, skins and other trophies, we 

 struck camp and left Solai on March 1, holding for the 

 Alabanyata, and securing a good female of B. jacksoni, 

 with 16-in. head, on the march. On the river named 

 we found General Baden- Powell encamped, and now learnt 

 (to our regret) that it was to the defender of Mafeking 

 that we had unwittingly showed a " clean pair of heels " 

 on the night of the 23rd (p. 152-3). The General rode 

 up as we were off-skinning a grand bull of Neumann's 



hartebeest, carrying 19-in. horns, that W had just 



shot from the track. The bullet had entered the eve at 

 a very long range, and we were rather surprised when 

 we noticed its species, further west than we had expected 

 to find it. 



Eiding on together, we presently began to notice, 

 far ahead, large troops of zebras, many hundreds in all, 

 steadily moving up the valley towards us. None 

 having been observed here on our way up ten days 

 before, this was evidently a migratory movement in 

 progress. There were also several kongoni in sight, and 

 " B.-P." presently went after three big bulls on our left. 

 An hour or so later, a retroo;rade movement amono- the 

 troops of advancing zebras attracted my attention. 

 Several herds were galloping wildly back in the direction 

 whence they had come. Thinking that it might possibly 

 be a lion that had thus thrown them back in confusion, 



