28 ELEPHANT-HUNThXG IN EAST AFRICA chai-. i 



bundles and we returned to the " boma," reaching there on the 

 morning of 14th April. 



The news that awaited me was far from cheering. Although 

 before I left many of my donkeys were already dead, I had 

 hoped that when those that had suffered most from " fly " 

 in passing through the Tana valley had succumbed, the re- 

 mainder would keep healthy ; for I did not then know that 

 Laiju was one of the most deadly places in Africa for domestic 

 animals, not excepting the generally hardy ass. But on my 

 return now I found that all were either dead, dying, or sick. 

 This was a great blow, as I knew that without these useful 

 pack animals it would be impossible to penetrate far into the 

 uninhabited country stretching northward from the Jambeni 

 range towards Lake Rudolph ; and though I had been en- 

 couraged by many promises to hope that we might obtain 

 some from the Embe natives, not one had yet been offered for 

 sale. However, I determined at all events to explore as much 

 of the country as circumstances would allow of my reaching 

 in directions where I had reason to believe elephants were 

 numerous. Various matters, with which it is not necessary to 

 trouble the reader in detail, caused another fortnight to slip by 

 unprofitably^I paid a short experimental visit to the Embe 

 district, on the top of the range ; and the heavy rains at this 

 season being unfavourable to travelling, entailed further delay 

 — but at length I was ready to start for another attempt. 



