372 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



for the caravan, and during this part of the journey — that is, 

 before we had reached the rugged country at the south end 

 of Bassu — kept up the supply pretty abundantly, shooting 

 something about every other day. Starting so early and 

 making only short marches, there was plenty of time to hunt 

 after camp had been pitched. In this way zebra of both 

 kinds, oryx, etc., were shot, an odd hippo, and once a solitary 

 cow buffalo (an animal I had not set eyes on for years, and 

 which quite reminded me of old times). 



Whether the zebra of the small species are absolutely 

 identical with those already mentioned as occurring in the 

 neighbourhood of the Lorogi Mountains, it is impossible to 

 be certain without seeing them side by side ; but I incline to 

 believe that those in this locality, at any rate, may be found 

 to differ somewhat from the variety described as Equus grantii 

 by ]\Ir. de Winton. I noted of one obtained in this part 

 that " the black stripes are wide and the white narrow, 

 particularly on the neck, and along the back are spots or 

 blotches instead of distinct stripes." But it appears to me 

 that all the varieties of this zebra, such as Chapman's, Grant's, 

 etc., are but local forms of Burchell's, with which they are 

 all specifically identical, though differing slightly as to details 

 of colour and markings.^ In all their general characteristics, 

 whether of form, appearance, habits, paces, or voice, they are 

 indistinguishable, while equally separated from the totally 

 distinct Grevy's zebra by a wide gulf 



I am not partial to zebra meat myself, but the tongue is 

 good, and rissoles made of the liver (always supposing the 

 animal to be young and in good condition) are not to be 

 despised. Generally, though, I prefer venison ; but my first 

 object always being quantity, for the sake of my hungry 

 porters, I commonly neglected gazelles and devoted my 



1 In a foetal skin which I have obtained a little north of the Tana, faint "shadow 

 stripes" are apparent between the dark bands on the thighs, though these clearly-defined 

 dark bands continue right down to the hoofs. 



