232 ON SAFARI 



back, and had it not been for a second barrel a grand 

 bull gnu might perhaps have escaped." 



It was 4 p.m. when, on returning from Nairobi, I 

 rode into camp on the Stony Athi. Ali Yam a was then 

 already watching a herd of 200 wildebeest assembling 

 some three miles away, preparatory to coming to water. 

 After a cup of coffee, we set out at once. The gnu 

 in long procession, all heads held low, slowly directed 

 their course riverwards. The ground was open and 

 unfavourable ; hence we were still 250 yards away when 

 the head of the column (unaccompanied, this time, by 

 hartebeest) reached the river and descended the steep 

 bank. Truly it seemed a " soft job " ! I had only to 

 await the disappearance of the last beast, and the whole 

 herd were at my disposal. But animal-instinct is not 

 so simple. The astute gnus this evening left a single 

 sentry on guard above, and this of course forbade my 

 going in. Jn the result I was obliged to accept the long- 

 range shot — declined before — as they left the water, and 

 secured a fair bull with 2 2 -in. head. 



The following day, further up the river, another 

 chance was presented — the gnu being this time piloted 

 by a single hartebeest as described ; but it clearly 

 evidences the tense keenness of their instincts that, on 

 the third day, not a single wildebeest came to water, 

 whether up or down river ! The chance was over, but 

 with eight splendid specimens we were content. 



January 31. — Returning to the standing-camp this 

 morning, I got another grand wildebeest bull (the ninth) 

 in this way. We were moving forward in parallel valleys 



about two miles apart, W , I observed, pushing 



before him a crowd of kongoni, with this single big gnu 

 in company. Presently the kongoni, hundreds strong, 

 wheeled towards me, and began streaming across the 

 ridge on my front ; when, aided by slightly favouring 

 ground, I got well forward and awaited the gnu ; along 

 he came with his prancing gallop, but on seeing many 

 kongoni (which had already passed me, and were in 



