374 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



even to find a safe spot to retreat to, but we managed to get 

 our dripping belongings carried to a slight elevation — a sort 

 of bank of gravel — over which, luckily, the inundation did not 

 rise, all hands working with a will. It was not a cheerful 

 sight to see the water surging around the stack of precious 

 food (the ivory could not be hurt) and through my tent, while 

 our belongings were hastily transported anyhow in the pouring 

 rain. However, the damage proved less than at first sight 

 appeared ; only a few loads of meal were soaked, and though 

 the mishap caused us a day's delay and a good deal of trouble 

 to dry everything, no food was really spoilt. As often happens, 

 what at first threatened to be a calamity was in reality a most 

 fortunate occurrence for us ; even the flood turned out a blessing, 

 for we now had an abundance of water where thirst had menaced 

 us. Thus the favourite Swahili formula when travelling — 

 " Omba Muungu " (Beg of God) — seems, on occasion, something 

 more than a mere form of words. 



As showing how porters appreciate one's efforts to get 

 meat for them, and prize such an addition to their regular 

 food ration when obtainable, I may mention a little incident 

 that occurred about this time. I had been rather annoyed 

 about something that had been going on in the caravan, and 

 had purposely abstained from shooting any game for a day or 

 two in consequence. The men knew the reason, and the 

 pressure thus brought quietly to bear had a salutary effect. 

 One evening, after I had lain down, and while having my last 

 smoke, Abdulla came into my tent, and after squatting down 

 and turning his head about (to the accompaniment of sundry 

 little preliminary coughs) in his usual nervous manner when he 

 had anything in the nature of a favour to ask — a sort of bashful 

 smile on his face, lit up by the flickering fire outside, — said 

 that the men were bemoaning the meat famine, and had asked 

 him to express their regret for having caused me annoyance, 

 and to beg that I would hunt for them again. It being against 

 my will to deny them, I let him please them by a promise to 



