256 ON SAFARI 



Vol 



There is certainly a period when Oryx callotis 

 frequents this region, and the same applies to Simba 

 and Sultan Hamud. But March is not that period. 

 Hence here again our continued search proved fruitless. 

 Not an oryx was seen. The true home of this species 

 lies further south — towards Kilimanjaro and in the 

 German territory. 



Having secured two Wateita guides who knew the 

 bush and assured us they could show us at any rate 

 lesser koodoo, eland, and I knew not what else, we 

 scoured the bush-country lying towards the west below 

 the mountains. It was fairly thick, though opens were 

 interspersed, but at this season almost bare of game 

 save Hinde's dikdik [Madoqua hindei) and a few 

 impala. 



The presence of game at other seasons was, however, 

 attested by the numicrous game-traps devised in olden 

 days by the savage mind. 



Strong ramparts of aloes, thorns and other impass- 

 able shrubs everywhere traversed the bush. These had 

 probably been planted in the first instance, but were 

 now growing naturally enough, and lying athwart our 

 path, obliged us to seek a passage elsewhere. This, 

 however, proved simple, for presently an opening would 

 be discovered leading through the obstruction. Here 

 was the trap. This narrow passage-way was occupied 

 by a deep pitfall. These were now open and conspicuous 

 enough ; but one could readily imagine how fatal they 

 must have been to game when deftly concealed by a 

 treacherous blind of branches, grass, etc. 



On the outskirts of the forest lying under the rocky 

 mountain-range to the west we enjoyed our only view 

 of the lesser koodoo. It was but a glimpse, for we 

 "jumped" this beautiful antelope a long hundred yards 

 ahead, and though we spent the rest of that morning 

 following the spoor, we saw him no more. 



There was old sign and spoor of eland, and still more 



