334 
A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
entertainment for all lovers of the chase. When, how¬ 
ever, Mr. Elkington and Capt. Riddell, as joint 
masters, took over the pack in 1908 the hunt was first 
placed on a definite basis. The old bobbery pack, 
though eminently serviceable, was dispersed and drafts 
of first-rate hounds obtained from home, mainly owing 
to the kindness of Lord Leconfield and Mr. Greswolde 
Williams. Fine airy stone kennels were built and a 
suitable stud of hunt horses provided. 
The pack is a subscription pack—though it is to be 
feared that the joint masters have often to dip some¬ 
what deeply into their own pockets—consisting of some 
fifteen to twenty couples, and hunt twice a week 
throughout the two seasons, which are formed by the 
two rainy periods and as long afterwards as the state 
of ground and scent allow. The usual hour of the 
meet is 6.30 a.m., at which early hour scent naturally is 
best, and Sunday morning gives the largest attendance, 
since it is on that day only that Government servants 
and business men can regularly afford the time. Jackal 
and duiker are hunted and provide first-rate sport, 
perhaps the latter more particularly. The country 
consists mainly of rolling downs and plains interspersed 
with cultivation and patches of trees and bush, though 
occasionally hounds run right into the Ngong forest. 
A handy pony is the right mount, as there is not a 
great deal of jumping, but a good deal of clambering 
up and down dongas and nullahs. He must not be 
slow, however, as from time to time hounds run un¬ 
commonly fast and there are few if any fences to 
check their speed. The hounds on the whole do 
fairly well, but naturally require more attention than 
at home. Tick fever is the great evil with which they 
have to contend, and a good many valuable hounds 
