IX 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



38s 



reached Daitcho, all the rhinoceroses in East Africa 

 seemed to have clustered about our pathway, and to 

 have religiously devoted all their attentions and ener- 

 gies to charging us as frequently as possible. 



On this journey we marched in the following order. 

 In front, at a distance of 100 yards, I with Karscho 

 my gun-bearer cleared the road of these beasts ; then 

 came two Soudanese, who were good shots ; then the 

 porters. Following these, and bringing up the rear, 

 borne upon the shoulders of four men, lying in a lit- 

 ter, and surrounded by a body-guard of six of the 

 best shots in the caravan, who had orders, in case a 

 rhinoceros charged, never to desert their master, came 

 Lieutenant von Hohnel. 



The country over which our path near the Guaso 

 Nyiro lay was close to the stream, and varied in char- 

 acter from small, grassy savannahs covered with tall 

 acacia to vast stretches of thorny bush. For some 

 reason the rhinoceroses had left the plains, and gath- 

 ered near the banks of the river. From the time we 

 left Sayer until we arrived at Daitcho, I saw more 

 than 100 rhinoceroses. Though not more than twenty- 

 five charged the caravan, the proximity of the others 

 kept my nerves upon a continued stretch. Often, de- 

 spite my care and watchfulness, I would pass by one 

 of these brutes, which would reserve its charge until 

 the appearance of Lieutenant von Hohnel and his lit- 

 ter. I would be made aware that something had hap- 

 pened by hearing a fusilade of shots, and looking back 

 would see my men throwing down their loads and 

 running in all directions. 



One of these charges proved fatal. It was in the 

 2 c 



