74 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



be quite on the safe side) three more, which, with my two, 

 would make fifteen altogether. I never saw so many before 

 at once. 



We got back to camp in good time, but it took us till 

 long after dark before the skins were cleaned and pegged out. 

 On the way back I saw an enormous herd of zebras, numbering 

 several hundred at least. No wonder there are so many lions 

 here with such a wealth of prey. We saw no more fresh 

 elephant spoor. 



The next morning I made an early start again to search 

 for it in other directions, as it was necessary to wait another 

 day here for my lion skins to dry. We first followed our 

 stream down a good way, some on each side, and then struck 

 across towards some hills to the westward. We crossed two 

 more streams on the way, near one of which we passed close 

 to a rhino cow and calf lying asleep ; and I stood and had a 

 good look at them and wished I had a camera, it was such a 

 splendid chance for a photograph, and then went on, leaving 

 them peacefully slumbering. We made a very long round but 

 found no recent spoor, though during the last rains there had 

 been a large troop of elephants about, as we could see by 

 the mimosa bushes being broken all over the place in one 

 part we passed through. On our return by another course 

 we found we had three streams to cross instead of two ; the 

 extra one a very strong torrent, running above ground only in 

 places and then disappearing again. These brooks all come 

 from the neighbourhood of Kenia, but many do not reach the 

 Gwaso Nyiro with any surface water in their beds except 

 during the rains. On the way back, seeing another rhino 

 cow with a three parts grown calf lying under a tree, and 

 noticing that she had a rather nice horn, I thought I might as 

 well shoot her, as the meat would be welcome to my men ; so 

 I went up to her, and when she stood up shot her in the chest, 

 and she dropped after a short run. As usual when there are 

 two in company, the young rhino would not run away at first. 



