36 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
had seen this trip—and following a big elephant path, 
along which a large herd had passed a few days ago, 
turned up between some low foot - hills (still skirting the 
range) and down into a flat valley full of curious, straight, 
slim mimosas, some with red, others with white stems, 
giving an odd striped appearance to this part of the bush. 
Passing through these we found ourselves close to cultivated 
lands and could see large kraals on the bare hills near. Here 
I proposed turning back, as I could not believe elephants 
would be so near natives at mid-day ; moreover, this was the 
tribe who had fought Chanler’s expedition and I did not feel 
sure how they might treat us should we run among them. 
But our guide vehemently protested that we were leaving 
the elephants close by ; and while I considered whether it 
were possible he could be leading us into a trap or whether 
we should be wise to go on, we heard elephants trumpeting 
not far ahead. 
I had been suffering severely all the morning from 
blistered feet caused by foolishly putting on a pair of 
new boots. This had also disposed me to give up the search 
for to-day, as we had seen no fresh spoor ; but of course the 
sound of elephantine voices at once did away with all other 
considerations and we pushed on towards a grove of tall 
mimosas of the kind called “ fever trees ” in South Africa 
(so called, I imagine, because they only grow in the low 
fever-haunted country, generally near water, though their 
pale, yellowish-green bark gives them a sickly appearance 
too, matching well with the name). My guide was a very 
obstinate fellow, refusing to be influenced by any suggestion 
of mine in any respect; and now he persisted in it that we 
must go round to the windward side of the bush where the 
elephants were. I was, however, determined not to have my 
chance spoilt in that way, so I left him, since he would not 
follow us. I found afterwards that he never would go near 
elephants. 
