LAKE RUDOLPH 285 



the large river running in from the north, now only a short 

 way ahead, for Mn)^amiri assured me we should reach the first 

 kraals of Reshiat early the day but one after. Fringing the 

 lake margin were beds of tall, dark-green rushes, contrasting 

 picturesquely with the numerous white herons and egrets. 



I went out in the afternoon to try to shoot a granti for 

 my own larder ; but the sun and wind were together — that is 

 to say, the sun getting low and the wind also in the west, a 

 most unfavourable combination — and I could not get near 

 them, though numerous. The most favourable conditions for 

 approaching game are a low sun on your back and the wind 

 in your face. Then the hunter is in shadow, the game con- 

 spicuous, and the wind from the latter to the former ; reverse 

 these conditions and the chances are all against him. 



The next day I had the opportunity of examining through 

 my glasses some waterbuck (the second lot I had seen), and 

 made out that they were not the ringed sort, but a variety 

 (probably " defassus ") with white patches on the stern in place 

 of the elliptical mark characteristic of the common east-coast 

 waterbuck. This is the only part of the lake where any are 

 seen. Here the shore w^as fringed with " suaki " jungle, with 

 bushes in the water too, which was now very muddy but 

 quite sweet. We camped close by a very big old elephant 

 skull — perhaps a victim of Count Teleki's. 



Bethinking me that this was Christmas Day, I got out my 

 rook rifle and shot a goose, deeming that as suitable a dish for 

 the occasion as I could command ; for I had no fresh meat, 

 and it seemed a shame to have dry biltong for m\' dinner. 

 Luckily it proved a fat one, and, though so freshly killed, was a 

 success on the table. I had no delicacy to bring out as a treat 

 in honour of the festival ; no " medical comforts " whatever, my 

 one grub box containing nothing but tea, salt, soap, matches, a 

 little coffee, and a {q\n candles (the latter kept as a stand-by 

 in case of sickness), besides some cartridges to make up the 

 weight. Nevertheless I enjoyed my dinner, though the 



