I04 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



Two were, however, behind, and had not yet crossed the gully, 

 so I ran down to try to cut them off; but they put on a spurt 

 and I only managed to get a stern shot at one. Being above 

 her the bullet caught her in the back (as it afterwards turned 

 out), and told loudly ; but they went off, and we had to give 

 up the chase, as it was getting late. This cow was, however, 

 found a few days after by some Ndorobos, and I got the ivory 

 all right. 



On starting back for camp I sent one of my young 

 Ndorobo companions to call the two headmen of their clans, 

 and on reaching camp, about sundown, they met me. There 

 being heaps of meat in the wind they made no delay or excuses. 

 I am bound to say, though, that these people are far more 

 reliable, as a rule, than most Central African savages. On 

 giving them leave to take possession of the elephants (ap- 

 portioning each tribe its share, to prevent any quarrelling), I 

 told them they must bring me some honey. This they 

 promised to do as soon as they had eaten the elephants. They 

 fulfilled their promise loyally later on, bringing me a liberal 

 supply of the most beautifully clear, luscious honey. I find 

 that honey is almost a necessity in the " bara." It is the only 

 sweet thing one gets, for sugar one cannot carry sufficient of to 

 last ; and when living on nothing but the simplest and coarsest 

 food with meat, one has a craving for something sweet and 

 does not feel satisfied or strong without it. The Ndorobos 

 depend largely on it, especially for their children. It is a 

 wonderful country for flowers, and seldom dries up near the 

 Lorogi owing to the frequent mountain showers ; and bees in 

 consequence thrive and accumulate great stores. I found a 

 kind of wild fruit or bean (something like acorns), which the 

 natives eat, very good when thoroughly boiled and eaten with 

 honey, and it was a great stand-by while I was in that part. 

 My poor old Xdorobo follower whom I called " Papa " had 

 cut his hand while cutting up the elephant shot previously, 

 and the meat, being somewhat high, had poisoned his blood 



