56 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



we were all pretty well done up, for the day was 

 oppressively hot, and we had been without food. On the 

 way I shot at a big hippo, which rolled over twice and 

 sank. 



As next day was Christmas, we three wanted to 

 spend it where we were, and I was anxious to get the 

 big hippo, which I felt pretty sure was dead; however, 

 H. decided to march. That night I again sat up in 

 the zariba, but except for a hippo which landed close 

 to us, and seemed inclined to investigate matters, we 

 heard and saw nothing. On Monday, 25th December, 

 Christmas Day, I returned to camp at 6 a.m. and the 

 caravan left an hour later. It took just three hours to 

 cut across the big bend of the Hawash. As soon as we 

 had left the belt of trees by the river, we found a sandy 

 open plain, sparsely dotted with thorn trees, which con- 

 tinued till we drew near the stream again. 



Long before this we had adopted the clothes and 

 head-dress which we each found suited us best, and 

 a queer-looking lot we must have been. H. generally 

 rode in shirt sleeves, with a silk handkerchief knotted 

 round his neck, and a felt hat on his head, supplemented 

 in the heat of the day by a large white umbrella, the 

 putting up of which was invariably the signal for his 

 mule to bolt straight for the nearest timber. Thin boots, 

 cloth gaiters, and dog-skin gloves, completed his costume. 

 B., finding his breeches tight about the knee, had cut 

 off the ends with a knife, turning them into shorts. 

 These, with thick stockings, shooting-boots, a flannel 

 shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a silk neckerchief, and 

 a felt hat, made up a kit which, at first sight, seemed 



