i 4 6 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA CHAP. 



whole structure look as natural as possible. Near 

 the base of the shoma, and looking out on the body 

 of the eland, loopholes were cut, through which we 

 could see and thrust our rifles. Of course a small 

 opening was left at the back of the shoma for a door- 

 way which would be closed again by a bush as noon 

 as we got inside. 



In addition, I had a steel trap set close to the 

 kill, which I thought would be powerful enough to 

 hold the lion for a second or two if he put his foot 

 into it, thus giving us a better chance of shooting 

 him before he could get out of sight in the dark. I 

 had this trap firmly anchored to a big root by means 

 of a stout rope. 



When we returned to camp we swallowed a hasty 

 dinner, and then all three set out for the shoma, 

 accompanied by two gun-bearers whom I considered 

 necessary to have inside with us so that they might 

 guard the back of the flimsy shoma, where we were 

 only protected by a few bushes. 



The ground inside had been covered with dry 

 grass, and on this we placed our blankets beside 

 the loopholes, and taking up as comfortable a posi- 

 tion as possible, thrust the barrels of our rifles 

 through the holes and remained thus for hours, 

 intently watching the spot where we knew the half- 

 eaten body of the dead eland lay. The night was 

 so inky black that we could barely see even the 



