io6 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



any elephants, on which occasion I came across four cows, 

 three of which I killed. While there I was very nearly caught 

 in one of the fall-traps we frequently came across in that part 

 (the El Bogoi Ndorobos never set therh). I was walking along 

 a path, with my eyes on a spoor which led in that direction, 

 when suddenly my forehead came in contact with a cord 

 stretched across it, and, looking up, I saw the murderous 

 harpoon in its heavy shaft hanging right above my head. 

 Luckily the owners do not set them " tickle," lest the wind 

 should set them off, and I had not pressed the string hard 

 enough to release the impending javelin. 



The little river Seya, which drains the Lorogi range, afforded 

 clear proof of the quantity of rain that was falling on the tops, 

 being very full all the time. It is curious that none of the 

 water from all the country north of the Jambeni hills finds its 

 way to the sea, but is poured into swamps or lakes, with no 

 outlet. The Seya runs into such a swamp, near the Matthews 

 range, called El Gereh. 



I had a fair amount of success during the whole of this 

 month ; but it would be tedious were I to recount all the 

 details of everj^ day's hunt. I will, however, add the particulars 

 of the killing of one or two of my big bulls ; for I was lucky 

 enough to get several fine old fellows with heavy tusks. I was 

 back again in the neighbourhood of El Bogoi, the two headmen 

 of that district (my particular friends) having come after me to 

 report that another large herd had appeared ; and as I had had 

 but indifferent success where I had gone after leaving there, I 

 was ready to go with them at once. The first day I was un- 

 successful, getting only an indifferent chance and failing to bag 

 the elephant I shot at, though, oddly enough, I killed the same 

 one on a subsequent occasion. 



I was having my early breakfast the morning after this 

 disappointing day, when three Ndorobo lads came to say one 

 of them had heard elephants quite near. I got ready at once 

 and went with them ; and we had only gone a comparatively 



