270 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



sickness during the whole of this journey, and never any that a 

 pill or two or a few opium tabloids would not cure. My men 

 carried far heavier loads than is customary (or even lawful, 

 according to present regulations !) in Europeans' caravans ; yet 

 not only did they never complain, but with, as far as I can 

 remember, the single exception of a case of gripes or stomach 

 cramp, lasting half an hour or so, and one of lameness at 

 the very end of the return journey, not a porter was ever 

 unable or unwilling to shoulder his load in the morning and 

 bring it in smiling to the camping-ground for the day. I think 

 I may say that this evidence contrasts favourably with the 

 descriptions of the " sick-roll," etc., so often met with in accounts 

 of African travel. At the same time, meat alone will not do ; 

 and, for men accustomed to a farinaceous diet, is less desirable 

 even than grain alone. 



To return to my progress on this 13 th December '95. I 

 found a pleasant spot in which to camp, beside a little creek, just 

 about the right time, with a thorn-tree to pitch my tent under ; 

 and after seeing everything in order and having some tea and 

 a snack, I went off with one attendant to hunt. I took up the 

 gradually rising ground towards the east, the wind being favour- 

 able — that is, in my face — and before going very far sighted four 

 or five Grevy's zebras feeding on an open ridge. It was not an 

 easy place to approach them in, but I was determined to do my 

 utmost to get a shot. I succeeded better than I had hoped 

 for even. Taking advantage of some little hollows, which I 

 managed to reach unobserved by making a circuit, I crawled 

 alone to near the brow of the low ridge on which they were, 

 unconscious of danger, without showing myself. Then, waiting 

 prone till they were turned away from me, I got into a sitting 

 position on ground commanding a clear view of them ; shot 

 one as soon as it turned sufficiently to afford an aim at a vital 

 spot, and, 'before the others knew what was the matter, had 

 given a second a bullet, each, after a short spasmodic rush, 

 falling dead. They were two large mares, in fine condition. 



