i^ 



An African Shooting Trip 



As A. D. S. and I wished to mal<:e sure of 

 lion and rhinoceros, we decided to cross the 

 Haud, or waterless plain, lying to the south- 

 west, a five days* journey without wells. H. 

 K., not caring to make so extensive a trip, 

 parted from us here, and made his way slowly 

 back to the coast. 



One night, before starting on this journey, 

 while smoking together after dinner, A. D. S. 

 and I were startled to see a considerable num- 

 ber of our men range themselves about us in 

 the growing darkness. The interpreter said 

 they refused to cross the waterless plain with- 

 out increased pay. Taking the lantern from 

 the table, I walked around the circle, and 

 made out the faces of the malcontents for 

 future reference. We decided to make a firm 

 stand once for all, and sent word to the men, 

 after they had dispersed and were gathered 

 about their camp-fires, that they must be 

 ready to march the following day at the old 

 wages, or make their way back to the coast as 

 best they could. The next morning the spirit 

 of dissatisfaction had fled, largely through the 

 efforts of my head man, Adan, who was al- 

 ways staunch, and an excellent manager of his 



own people. 



Ill 



