ELEPHANT HOME LIFE 81 



the land sunk rapidly some 2,300 to 2,500 feet in one or two 

 plateau terraces, so that we got a very extended view in 

 that direction. Far away below us was the extension of the 

 Sukuta salt steppe, the dreary lowland we had already noticed 

 from our camping-place on February 19, which gave us the 

 impression of the bed of an old lake. It is, in fact, covered 

 with a thick encrustation of salt, and Sukuta signifies salt in 

 the Masai dialect. Beyond this salt steppe, and some twenty- 

 eight miles off, rose a low chain of hills running in a north- 

 north-easterly direction, whilst further away on the west the 

 horizon was shut out by a lofty mountain range. We were 

 surprised on reaching the western side of Mount Nyiro at 

 coming upon volcanic debris, such as lava and ashes, strewing 

 the ground, whilst the mountain itself still retained the rugged 

 form characteristic of gneiss. The volcanic layer begins close 

 to the western base of Mount Nyiro and, as we had noted 

 everywhere in Leikipia, sinks further west in a series of steps. 

 We were altogether at a loss to discover where all this volcanic 

 debris came from. 



We passed the night by a little brook which, after a short 

 course, disappeared in a long fissure at the foot of the mountain. 

 During the march the Count had brought down a rhinoceros, 

 and thus provided ample food for those who disliked elephant 

 meat. Later in the day we were also able to fill the pots of 

 the other men, for soon after breakfast we heard that elephants 

 had been seen near the camp. The Count and I went off in 

 the direction indicated, and in a few minutes came upon a 

 solitary elephant bull, just crossing a grassy clearing. There 

 was not a bit of cover, but we had to be quick if we did not 

 want to lose our game, so the Count opened fire at once. After 

 the first shot in the shoulder, the elephant drew himself together 

 and seemed to shrink in size, but after the second he trotted 

 past us at a distance of some fifty paces, strange to say not 



VOL. H. G 



