36 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



had seen this trip — and following a big elephant path, 

 along which a large herd had passed a few days ago, 

 turned up between some low foot-hills (still skirting the 

 range) and down into a flat valley full of curious, straight, 

 slim mimosas, some with red, others with white stems, 

 giving an odd striped appearance to this part of the bush. 

 Passing through these we found ourselves close to cultivated 

 lands and could see large kraals on the bare hills near. Here 

 I proposed turning back, as I could not believe elephants 

 would be so near natives at mid-day ; moreover, this was the 

 tribe who had fought Chanler's expedition and I did not feel 

 sure how they might treat us should we run among them. 

 But our guide vehemently protested that we were leaving 

 the elephants close by ; and while I considered whether it 

 were possible he could be leading us into a trap or whether 

 we should be wise to go on, we heard elephants trumpeting 

 not far ahead. 



I had been suffering severely all the morning from 

 blistered feet caused by foolishly putting on a pair of 

 new boots. This had also disposed me to give up the search 

 for to-day, as we had seen no fresh spoor ; but of course the 

 sound of elephantine voices at once did away with all other 

 considerations and we pushed on towards a grove of tall 

 mimosas of the kind called " fever trees " in South Africa 

 (so called, I imagine, because they only grow in the low 

 fever-haunted country, generally near water, though their 

 pale, yellowish-green bark gives them a sickly appearance 

 too, matching well with the name). My guide was a very 

 obstinate fellow, refusing to be influenced by any suggestion 

 of mine in any respect ; and now he persisted in it that we 

 must go round to the windward side of the bush where the 

 elephants were. I was, however, determined not to have my 

 chance spoilt in that way, so I left him, since he would not 

 follow us. I found afterwards that he never would go near 

 elephants. 



