396 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT chap. 



perfectly clear to all of us that, if his life was to be 

 saved, he must be taken with all speed to some 

 place where he could receive the treatment of a 

 physician. The nearest one lived at a mission station 

 called Kibwezi, more that 200 miles distant; so 

 we decided that Lieutenant von Hohnel should be 

 carried thither with all possible despatch. 



During our absence from Daitcho, George had 

 continued to maintain the friendliest relations with 

 the natives. He had learned by experience that the 

 key to their friendship was an ample supply of meat; 

 and, being an excellent shot, he had spent at least 

 three days of each week on shooting- expeditions in 

 the vicinity of the camp. Although provided with a 

 .577 express, he used for every species of game 

 a Mannlicher; and judging from the variety and 

 quantity of game he succeeded in killing, one is 

 tempted to come to the conclusion that the Mann- 

 licher can achieve more satisfactory results than any 

 other rifle. His bag had consisted of giraffe, hippo- 

 potamus, rhinoceros, lion, and several varieties of 

 antelope — animals both thick and thin skinned, large 

 and small, timorous and aggressive. Three of his 

 adventures are worthy of mention. 



One morning just before dawn he was walking 

 along the banks of the Ura River, which at that 

 point were clad with a thick growth of a stunted 

 mimosa. He was in advance of his followers, and 

 marching carelessly through the bush, when he was 

 startled by a rhinoceros emerging from the river, 

 about forty feet distant and on his right. In the 

 bright light of midday the rhinoceros cannot see 



