CHAPTER VII 



SECOND EXPEDITION 



Change in rifle equipment — Reach Samburu — A waterless district — Watering donkeys 

 — Flocks of guinea-fowl — Ukambani — ^Among the Wakamba tribe — Mishap to 

 Frolic — An impassable river — ^Traces of elephants — Death of Frolic — A dis- 

 appointing day — Construct a canoe — Difficult navigation — Crossing the pack- 

 animals — A serviceable call — A disagreeable route — Interior of a crater — Near- 

 ing the Lorogi Mountains — My old camp at El Bogoi. 



A CHANGE had been made in the rifles with which I was 

 equipped for this trip. Through an accident, my trusty .577 

 had become crippled, and I had replaced it by a hurriedly pro- 

 cured lo-bore by Holland. I was never in favour of big bores ; 

 and this one, though doubtless a first-rate weapon of its kind, 

 convinced me still more that they are a mistake. I had also 

 (as already mentioned) a Lee-Metford magazine rifle of the 

 ordinary military pattern, which I, personally, prefer to a 

 " sporting" stock. 



The personnel of the safari being practically the same as 

 before, every one knew his work, so there was no confusion or 

 worry ; neither did I have a single desertion, and everything 

 worked smoothly from the first. I had still my little bitch 

 " Frolic," and a small fox-terrier pup, which I christened " Pice," 

 had been given me. 



On the fourth day out we reached Samburu, and from there, 

 turning off to the right from the main Uganda path, struck 

 across for the junction of the Tsavo and Athi rivers. I hate 

 main roads and was glad to get off this one, though there are 



