236 THEOUGIl MASAILAND TO THE BORDERS OF KIKUYU 



upon the buffalo, and only when the latter lowered its horns 

 for a toss did he spring aside and fire, fortunately striking the 

 animal in the neck. With the death-rattle in its throat it 

 rolled at his feet. 



Count Teleki waited a long time for his people, who did 

 not appear until they heard him shouting for them. They all 

 knew the terrible danger he had run, and, hearing one shot 

 only, succeeded by absolute silence, they had jumped to the con- 

 clusion that he had met his end. It was touching to see their 

 delight when they found their mistake. Led by the moran 

 they gathered about him, shaking his hand and feeling his arms 

 and legs to make sure that he was unhurt ; then, after dancing 

 round him in mad glee, they fell with wild shouts upon the 

 buffalo — a well-grown cow — and cut her up with their knives 

 and spears. 



Meanwhile the daily life of the caravan went on quietly 

 enough. We bought ten grey donkeys, nine oxen, and a great 

 many goats — more than we thought we should be able to get. 

 The fact is there is always a scarcity of pack animals in Masai- 

 land, and of late so much cattle had been lost through disease, 

 that oxen are becoming very difficult to get. In some parts, 

 indeed, the natives are already suffering from famine on this 

 account, and are beginning seriously to devote their attention 

 to the breeding of sheep, which were formerly held in quite 

 secondary esteem. 



We started again on the morning of August 4, the whole 

 caravan being now able to advance together, loads and all, so 

 that we should have no more weary waiting in detachments. 

 As we left our camj) we noticed for the first time what 

 an immense number of vultures, kites, and marabout storks 

 the remains of our feasts had attracted. As long as the 

 camp was occupied they had remained in the branches of the 

 neighbouring trees, but as soon as they saw us leaving they 



