222 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA CHAP. 



rushing through a deep cleft in a rocky ridge 

 which crosses it almost at right angles. It is a 

 hot, inhospitable and uninviting spot, but the few 

 Samburu whom we met there with their flocks of 

 sheep and goats seemed to thrive in this arid 

 waste. 



During our daily marches along the river we saw 

 a great variety of game, especially impala, oryx, and 

 the beautiful Grevy zebra. Gerenuk also began to 

 be less rare, and we often caught glimpses of them 

 as they scampered off through the bush. Water- 

 buck too were particularly numerous, but I never 

 saw a good head on the Guaso Nyiro, and the 

 horns seem to run considerably smaller than those 

 of their kinsmen on the Athi or Tana rivers. One 

 day as I marched along with the safari I was 

 astonished to see one of these antelopes standing in 

 a shallow part of the river quite close to the passing 

 line of porters, taking absolutely no notice of the 

 men. One or two of the pagazis, more keen-sighted 

 than the rest, shouted out "He's blind, he's blind," 

 and, dropping their loads, rushed into the river and 

 soon had their knives into the poor beast's throat. 

 I think this waterbuck must have been deaf as 

 well as blind, as he paid no attention to the 

 noise and shouting, and was very easily despatched. 

 It is a most unusual thing to find a feeble beast both 

 blind and deaf living to a good old age in the wilds, 



