CHAPTER XVII 



CAMPING AT EL BOGOI 



A vexatious disablement — A drastic cure — Man-eating lions — ^Juma's lion story — A 

 diary under difficulties — Predatory lions scared — Loss of pack-animals — Pre- 

 cautionary measures — Setting a bait — A tragic scuffle — An exciting moment — 

 A magician's failure — Cheering prospects — A novel excuse — The lions' den — 

 An effectual trap — My treacherous gun — The last of the besiegers — A joyful 

 moment — Anticipation and realisation — Methods of setting gun-traps. 



We had reached El Bogoi on 3rd June, and on the 6th 

 Abdulla left with the bulk of the men for Mthara, a few only 

 remaining with me, together with all the donkeys (except two 

 or three which he had taken). I was waiting for Lesiat to 

 bring me news as to whether any elephants could be heard of 

 in any of the country round about, he having promised to send 

 out messengers for the purpose of obtaining information. But 

 hardly had the caravan left, than my right hand became 

 inflamed and swollen and extremely painful. I had got a 

 thorn in it one night when putting wood on my fire just before 

 our arrival here ; and whether it was that there was anything 

 poisonous about that particular thorn or the needle with which 

 it was extracted, or what the cause was, I could not tell, but in 

 a few days it became so bad that I did not know what to do 

 with it. Thorns and scratches are such a matter of course in 

 one's hands when hunting, that I never took any notice of 

 them nor ever felt any ill consequences from their attentions ; 

 in this case, however, something in the nature of blood- 

 poisoning ensued, resulting in my having the most frightful 



