256 THROUGH TURKANA AND SUK 



the whole matted into one impenetrable thicket by countless 

 parasitical growths, lined both banks of the broad channel, 

 which was moreover encumbered with the uprooted trunks of 

 many a fallen monarch, telling of the mighty force of the 

 current which now and then dashes downwards here. 



We had passed the spoors of man}^' giraffes by the way, but 

 had not come upon any game, though we searched for it most 

 carefully. Doubtless there were elephants in the forest on the 

 Trrawell, but, as the Count very soon found, the vegetation 

 was far too dense for hunting to be possible. Kharscho, who, 

 young as he was, was more at home in the wilderness than any 

 other member of the caravan, always had a good look round 

 in any new place, to take his bearings, so to speak. He went 

 off as usual here, soon coming upon two elephants, and the 

 Count at once started to hunt them, but though Kharscho was 

 acting as guide, he could not find their tracks again. We 

 therefore had to give up hope of much game here, for our long 

 experience in African travel had taught us not to hope to find 

 any wild animals but elephants in dense thickets. 



Forest and surrounding districts here were alike uninhabited, 

 but a few natives from a distance, attracted by the smoke from 

 our fires, came to see what it might mean. They promised to 

 bring us some cattle the next day, but as Qualla got back in 

 the evening, bringing two of our oxen and ten sheep to make 

 up for the third stolen animal, the Count decided to push on. 

 The thief, Qualla reported, had given up the two oxen and 

 paid the ten sheep as soon as his people told him to do so. 

 Taking into account the goodwill shown by the natives in the 

 matter, Count Teleki accepted the sheep as sufiicient payment, 

 and Lemagori was released from his promise to 'show us the 

 herds we might take away. We dismissed him with many 

 presents, and on the morning of June 22 resumed our march 

 southwards along the Trrawell. 



