CHAPTER IX 



EXCURSIONS FROM EL BOGOI {contmued) 



A well-earned rest — An Ndorobo harvest — Keen faculty of natives — A cool retreat 

 — A large rhino — Fourteen elephants in a day's hunt- — Distinctive character of 

 tusks — Trek with ivory to El Bogoi — Resemblance to Robinson Crusoe — 

 Experience as donkey-driver — An unexpected stroke of luck — Overloaded with 

 ivory — Stalking Gazelle — A fictitious report — A handsome pair of tusks — A 

 picturesque group^ — Welcome at El Bogoi. 



As we had only been in bed for about two hours by the time 

 the day dawned, and were all very tired, I decided we had 

 better rest that day ; in fact we were not equal to the long 

 journey to the scene of our yesterday's exploits again so soon. 

 For myself I felt really ill ; for, having had fever on me for 

 some days, I now felt thoroughly used up and sore all over. 

 It is hard lines to be able to get nothing one can face in the 

 food line, when a bit out of sorts ; but Swahili cooking is 

 scarcely such as to tempt a sick man. Besides, good old 

 Feruzi, who always did his best, was put to it for materials, as I 

 was quite unprovided with anything in the shape of " medical 

 comforts." 



That evening a lot of my Ndorobo friends from near El 

 Bogoi turned up, so I arranged for Squareface to go with them 

 the day after, to show them our elephants and see if any more 

 dead ones could be found. Accordingly, in the morning, he 

 went off early with them. I was very unwell indeed, and 

 obliged to stay in camp. In the afternoon I took a stroll 

 down to the junction of the Barasaloi with our river, and sat 



