Ill 



TRAVELS m EASTERN AFRICA 



107 



He also told us that a river, called Guaso Nyiro, was 

 distant from our camp three days' journey. This river 

 has its source on the western slopes of Mount Kenya, 

 and flows thence in an easterly direction. It was re- 

 ported by him to empty into Lake Lorian. He had 

 never visited this lake, but had followed the river for 

 some distance in a direction toward it. 



Motio told us that he had seen the Rendile on several 

 occasions, when they had come to trade with the natives 

 on the mountains, and that he understood they were 

 to be found somewhere in the neighbourhood of this 

 lake. This was good news to us, and our hopes rose 

 high ; we really were on the right trail to find these 

 people. 



It is astonishing how suddenly the African fever 

 strikes one down ; but it is equally surprising how 

 quickly a fairly vigorous constitution will throw it off, 

 and recover from its ill effects. On the fourth day after 

 my visit to the mountain I was on my feet again. 



During my illness Lieutenant von Hohnel had shot 

 three rhinoceroses and several antelopes. It was while 

 shooting the rhinoceroses that he discovered the won- 

 derful efficiency of the Mannlicher rifle upon this species 

 of game. On this occasion, expecting to find only ante- 

 lope, he had taken with him his .500 express, and had 

 exhausted all his ammunition in killing three of these 

 animals. While returning to camp, he came suddenly 

 upon a rhinoceros standing broadside on, at a distance 

 of 150 yards. He took the Mannlicher from his gun- 

 bearer, and fired at the animal's body. It at once 

 dropped ; and what was his surprise at that instant to 

 see another rhinoceros, which had apparently been 



