CHAP. VII 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



267 



Mannlicher from one of the Soudanese at the head of 

 the column. The rhinoceros approached to within 150 

 3'^ards of the caravan, and then turned oil at a shght 

 angle to our right, thus presenting a fair mark. I 

 fired three shots in c{uick succession, but as they ap- 

 peared to have no effect upon the movements of the 

 animal, I concluded I had missed. On it plunged for 

 perhaps 200 yards ; and while I was hesitating whether 

 or not to give it the two remaining shots in the mag- 

 azine, it suddenly tumbled to the ground, and lay life- 

 less on its side. Upon examination, I found that all 

 three shots had taken effect, but so far back in its 

 body as not to have had immediate effect upon the 

 activity of the animal. One shot entered between 

 the last two ribs ; the other two penetrated the space 

 between the ribs and the hind leg. If these wounds 

 had been inflicted with an express rifle, I feel that I 

 am correct in stating that I should never have gotten 

 the rhinoceros. On several occasions in my former 

 journey I put more than nine .577 shots into the 

 loins of a rhinoceros, without producing any more 

 apparent effect than to accelerate its speed. 



The meat of this beast was most welcome to my men. 

 It was a female, and having pastured on the new grass 

 brought out by the late rains, was in excellent condition. 



The other adventure was less pleasant and satisfac- 

 tory. Upon reaching our old camp under the giant 

 baobab in the neighbourhood of the Kora crater, we 

 found that, notwithstanding the fact that the rains had 

 just ended, there was not a drop of water in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood. We went waterless to bed that 

 night. Knowing that between us and the Guaso Nyiro 



