1 84 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



the Barasaloi, which joins the Seya just below where we were 

 camped, here a dry, sandy channel (and nothing can look more 

 desperately parched than a dry stream-bed). Its valley was 

 here narrow, enclosed by steep rocky hills, the bottom of the 

 trough having been evidently filled up with alluvial deposit, 

 forming a level surface between the opposing rocky slopes and 

 crags, under which the water which comes from the Lorogi 

 range must pass, though probably at a considerable depth ; for 

 the stream is too strong just under those mountains, and dis- 

 appears too suddenly, to be wholly accounted for by evaporation, 

 powerful though that is in Africa. 



The valley was lined with patches of mimosa, the trees of 

 considerable size, but without much underwood. As we tramped 

 steadily along on the spoor, we occasionally disturbed a giraffe, 

 which had been browsing on the thorn-trees, or a few oryx, 

 with here and there two or three walleri. These last, when 

 standing with the head up, look singularly like miniature 

 giraffe, but, on commencing to run, the resemblance at once 

 ceases. The head is then lowered, and the long neck stretched 

 out straight in front ; and these, with its lanky legs and slender 

 body, give the animal a very curious appearance as it starts off 

 at a quick trot.^ It is a very wary animal, and one which 

 seldom offers an easy shot. After a time we sat down, for a 

 spell, and considered whether it would be worth while to go 

 farther. My belief was that the herd was trekking for the 

 Lorogi Mountains, for there appeared to be no cover to hold 

 elephants that had been alarmed, besides which I doubted there 

 being any water in this spruit nearer than the foot of the 

 range. However, noticing some big hills ahead, I decided to 

 follow up as far as their base, where, if anywhere, the water 

 would be likely to reach the surface. Plodding on again we 

 came to where the valley curved to the left, and here and there 

 we noticed signs of moisture. Soon after, we entered a rocky 



1 These gazelles have been faithfully represented by the artist, from my descriptions, 

 in the illustration on page 8i. 



