172 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



had forced me to give him, which had clearly given him every 

 satisfaction. I may here say, that if any aspirant would like 

 me to use my art as a magician to enable him to become a 

 successful elephant-hunter, I shall be pleased to do business on 

 similar terms. I, however, made it up to my honest friend in 

 other ways ; indeed I gave him far more in the end than he 

 would have got from Swahili traders for the ivory. 



Early next morning I went out with Lesiat and his chum, 

 who had slept in my camp, going up stream in the direction 

 of the range. But I soon found, from my old friend's manner, 

 that he knew the herd (all old bulls) had left this part, and 

 that he had been only gassing yesterday. So we sat down and 

 had the inevitable " shauri," with the result that I let him go 

 home to send out search parties in various directions, with the 

 object of obtaining authentic information as to the present 

 whereabouts of the game we sought. He also promised to 

 keep me supplied with men every day to accompany me 

 hunting. It is always a great advantage to have one or two 

 of these people with one, as they know every inch of the 

 country, and are better up to spooring, etc., than one's own 

 followers. On the way back I took a short round across the 

 stream, but saw no spoor newer than the night but one before, 

 and that only of a few travellers. I felt most uncharitably 

 disposed towards Lorgete ; for it was too disappointing that, 

 when the conditions were so favourable, everything should have 

 been upset all through his jealousy in keeping the news of my 

 arrival from Lesiat, while at the same time making me believe 

 that he had sent him word. There was nothing for it now but 

 patience, anyway for a day or two. In the meantime I made 

 arrangements with Lesiat's son-in-law (Baithai by name) to 

 send to the Barasaloi in search of elephants, and, failing to find 

 there, down the Seya towards El Gereh, and to bring me back 

 the news. 



In spite of being very unwell, with fever hanging about 

 me, I could not rest, so went out again the following dayj 



