84 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
restore confidence in us. The old bucks and does 
were the most suspicious ; the young were far more 
trusting. Just as it is with us human things. Illusions 
are smashed in buckland as in England. 
The ridiculous inquisitiveness of the aoul makes him 
easy to stalk. The glinting of a rifle barrel seems to 
charm him rather than frighten him, as it would one 
of our Scotch deer. Sense of smell in the buck of the 
wild is even more marvellously marked than in the 
case of our home deer, and it must be so when we 
consider the added dangers. Death lurks on every 
side, but for one gereniik that falls a victim to King 
Leo’s appetite, I should imagine five aoul run into his 
very jaws in mistaken endeavour to see how many 
teeth in working order the fearsome enemy has. Never 
did I see such an inquisitive genus ! 
I found one or two newly born kids by watching the 
mother’s movements. I would mark the place in my 
mind to which she kept trotting away, then go later. 
It needed so careful a hunt before one could come on 
the little kid, covered up so ingeniously, in its cradle in 
a thorn brake. In a very short time though the babies 
get their jungle legs and can follow the mother at her 
own pace. I don’t know of any very much prettier 
sight than an aoul nursery full of kids playing. They 
are such sportive little creatures, just like lambs at 
home — jumping imaginary obstacles, running races, 
mimicking their elders in childish battle. Any little 
alarm, crack of twig, or fearsome rustle sends them 
all, on the instant, dashing back to the realm of safety 
by the side of the watchful parent. 
