220 THROUGH MAS AIL AND TO THE BORDERS OF KIKUYU 



4 During the march I had seen a good deal of game of 

 different kind, so in the afternoon I went hunting. We were 

 just entering a dense thicket when a rhinoceros rushed out 

 upon us. He was courteous enough to announce his approach 

 with a snort, so that I was ready for him, but a hall from my 

 577 Express rifle fired at his head only brought him down for 

 a minute. He was up again directly, received another ball, 

 and rushed away. I followed him, to find him standing at the 

 edge of the wood, and gave him another charge in the shoulder 

 which made him seek the shelter of the bush. I had to go 

 after him there at the risk of a sudden onslaught, but I 

 managed to finish him off with a final shot in the neck. Two 

 of my balls had passed right through him. 



'Later in the day we came upon some buffaloes hidden in 

 an overgrown ravine near the plain. We had approached the 

 thicket without the slightest suspicion, and only when we were 

 some twenty paces from it did an unexpected noise warn us of 

 danger. The next minute we saw the bushes part, and the 

 head of a buffalo with mighty horns appear. I was only able 

 to get a flying shot with my 500 Express rifle, which I happened 

 to have in my hand, and the whole herd, some twenty to thirty 

 strong, dashed away in the opposite direction. It was getting 

 dark, so that I was unable to follow up my game although 

 there was a very distinct blood-spoor. 



6 The next day another short march brought us to Ngare 

 Eongai. The otherwise dreary landscape was brightened up 

 by the presence of quantities of game, herds of zebras and 

 gnus springing away from our path with graceful leaps and 

 bounds. Without going one step out of my way I brought 

 down a hartebeest, a gnu, and two zebras. There were many 

 traces of Masai here, such as footprints and small holes 

 made in the ground near them by the points of their spears. 

 Some Masai came into camp, but only old men and women, 



