VIII EXCURSIONS FROM EL BOGOI 175 



thorn-trees along its banks, a pleasant sight in Africa, where 

 running water is scarce. It was a long, steep, stony descent to 

 get down to it, and took us till well on in the morning. There 

 was a good deal of water in the river at this time, and I noted 

 that it was at this point about 30 yards broad or nearly so, 

 very rapid and perhaps an average of 1 8 inches deep, running 

 towards the north now. I camped, though it was early, in order 

 to go ahead and prospect, as I did not know exactly how 

 near elephants might be found. 



During the afternoon I walked a long way down parallel 

 with the river. I found the valley similar to where we had 

 entered it ; not wide, but pretty straight and even. The river 

 was fringed, for the most part, with belts of thick forest or 

 dense jungle, of varying width, sometimes on one bank, at 

 others on both ; outside this the ground was open, with short 

 grass only, and very dry. I saw a few Grevy's zebra, oryx, and 

 Grant's gazelle, but could not get within shot, though I tried hard. 

 On the way back I entered the thick bush bordering the river. 

 It was very difficult to get about in, for though the trees, of 

 good size, were not close together, there was a dense under- 

 growth, mostly over one's head, through which it was hard to 

 force one's way, even in the game-paths. I saw and got near 

 a giraffe in this forest, but the covert was so tall at that part 

 that I could not see to get a shot, and I then lost sight of it. 

 Just after this a rhino came suddenly into view in a little open- 

 ing just ahead of me, and, for a second, gave a splendid chance, 

 but he had already scented me and ran just as I raised my 

 rifle, disappearing instantly in the thicket before I had time to 

 fire. Finally I caught sight of the head of the giraffe again, 

 and fired at it, but missed. On rejoining Squareface, whom I 

 had left behind when going after the giraffe, he told me that 

 three rhinos had passed close to him while I was away. We 

 also saw plenty of spoor, so that there seemed to be lots of 

 them there. We got back to camp at dusk, feeling rather 

 disappointed, as I wanted meat badly for all hands and 



