304 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



I was anxious to get on to Kcre, where Mnyamiri assured me 

 we should be able to buy plenty of " mtama " grain, in order 

 to make a standing camp and depot ; moreover, the discomfort 

 every one experienced here from the nightly plague disposed 

 me the more to push on without further delay at present. The 

 mosquitoes seemed, if possible, even thicker than ever that 

 night, and even I, under my net, could get little rest. It can 

 be understood, then, that it was with no reluctance that the 

 caravan left Bumi, where the men had all been so miserable 

 from lack of sleep, and proceeded on its journey. 



About an hour's march took us to the extreme point of the 

 most north-easterly horn of the lake. Here we were to leave 

 the lake and strike across for Murli, a little distance up the 

 river ; so, having been told it would be rather a long march, 

 I halted the caravan to allow the men to fill their calabashes. 

 About here we crossed a great deal of elephant spoor, the 

 creek being a much-frequented drinking-place, and even saw 

 two, one with a calf, crossing an open glade on the far side 

 towards thick forest, which stretches uninterruptedly from there 

 to the mouth of the river. On turning our backs upon the 

 lake we passed first over pleasant open ridges dotted with trees, 

 where was a good deal of game, mainly " topi," and I took 

 note of suitable camping-ground, two or three miles from the 

 water, where I hoped we might be comparatively free from 

 mosquitoes, to pitch my tent in on my return for systematic 

 hunting after establishing a market. 



Alurli^ did not prove so far as I expected. After topping 

 the highest part of the gentle rise between the fork of the lake 

 and the river, a winding belt of tall, dark-foliaged trees could 

 be seen marking the course of the great affluent ; and thence 

 the descent was through thick scrub, for the most part, until 

 the cultivated ground in the neighbourhood of the villages 



1 The letter "r" is pronounced with a strong roll in all names in which its sound 

 occurs in this region. Thus this might give a better idea of its true pronunciation if 

 written " Murrli. " The " u " is, of course, similar to our " oo " in sound. 



