174 SAFARI 



wanted. There were zebra, gazelle, wildebeeste and 

 wart hogs about in thousands. Unfortunately, the 

 weather was scorching hot; and since it had not 

 rained for days, a powdery dust rose under the 

 nervous hoofs of the animals and filled the air with 

 mist-like clouds that made photographic work 

 impossible. 



My chief amusement came from watching the 

 ostriches as they stalked down from time to time 

 to drink. They came individually. Each strode 

 slowly through the herds, his head pompously high 

 and his long legs thrust out affectedly at each step. 

 Though he looked neither to the right nor left the 

 quadrupeds made way for him. I watched carefully 

 to see if perchance there would be a collision at any 

 time. But there wasn't. However, I have long 

 since been convinced that other animals are afraid 

 of the ostrich's terrible kicking power. 



Having reached the water the ostrich settled itself 

 in its tracks and glanced haughtily about. If it was a 

 male, he usually swallowed a time or two. Had he 

 worn cuffs I am sure he would have shot them, prob- 

 ably taking a silk handkerchief out of his breast 

 pocket to wipe his beak before the first sip. Were it 

 a female, she rose slightly on her toes and fluttered 

 her wings before settling herself to the serious task 

 of quenching her thirst. Somehow this performance 

 conjured up the vision of a lady twitching her 



