BUFFALO COUNTRY 



hunger is by no means an uncommon thing in the 

 veldt — and as soon as I had given them a piece to 

 divide amongst themselves they departed perfectly 

 satisfied. Still, I knew that supplies must be obtained 

 shortly or we should be in serious trouble : and worry 

 is not a pleasant ally of malaria. 



The following morning we made an early start, 

 trekking through the Laikipia country. In places 

 the scenery was very fine, though late in the day we 

 struck some dense thorn jungle, through which it 

 was impossible to ride, in fact, so thick was it in places 

 that it was sometimes difficult even to lead one's horse. 

 It was ideal buffalo country, and we came on their 

 spoor several times, but, fortunately, none of them 

 got our wind, otherwise there might have been some 

 trouble. A buffalo is a dangerous customer at any 

 time, but he is particularly objectionable when he 

 charges you in thick bush of that kind. (During the 

 war in German East Africa a patrol in the charge of 

 my friend the late George Outram was stampeded in 

 thick bush by a small herd of buffalo, and several men 

 were seriously injured.) 



Beyond the thorn jungle was more open veldt, 

 and after that we came to a river, which happened to 

 be in flood. However, our horses, after a lot of 

 coaxing, carried us through with a sHght wetting, 

 whilst the carriers wound what clothes they had inside 

 their blankets and then round their heads turban 



197 



