24 Three Months Leave in Somali Land. 



cover. Went out with Jama, and crawled 

 through the most awful bit of thick bush I have 

 ever seen. After about 400 yards of tracking, 

 heard rhino snort and go off about twenty yards 

 ahead. Could see nothing, after about another 

 400 yards, same thing; this time bush a little 

 more open. I ran forward and just had a snap 

 shot at his stern about forty yards ahead. 

 Bullet hit a 3 in. branch and was I think de- 

 flected, for height and direction were correct; 

 followed for some time, no blood, and rhino 

 going like blazes for the West of Africa ; expect 

 he is going still. Kit arrived, have now tent, 

 table, and chair, was getting tired of living 

 under a bush. Water here very brackish, every- 

 thing cooked with it is beastly. Abdullah 

 brings khubba of lion one day's march ; shall 

 go day after to-morrow. 



26th, Friday. — Went out in morning with 

 Jama and Ali; saw fresh rhino pugs, lost in hard 

 ground after a long track. Searched a bit of 

 dense cover on hill top towards which tracks 

 lead ; nothing ; not satisfied ; went out again at 

 12.45, searched the whole hill top, could find no 

 rhino, cover very dense, very hard work getting 



