CHAPTER II 
ON THE JAMBENI RANGE 
Over Embe hills to Mthara—Description of country—The natives : their appearance 
and habits—Their mode of killing elephants—Fruitless search for game — Sight 
bush buck—Tempting chance of a rhino—Critical moment—Trumpetings heard 
—An obstinate guide—First encounter with elephants—Reputation as hunter 
at stake—A longed-for chance—My “ cripple-stopper ” — Three elephants shot— 
Change of camp—Friendly natives—Shoot an impala—Presents from natives— 
Holding a “ shauri ”—The request for tribute—“ Blood-brotherhood ”—An un¬ 
pleasant ordeal—My elder brother “ Ndaminuki ”—Track elephant spoor— 
Native curiosity—Sight another herd—Their favourite cover—A satisfactory 
shot—A good day’s work—Ivory trading a tedious process — Scarcity of impala 
—Kenia—A reason for making “shauri” — Visit native kraals. 
On 30th April 1894 about 6 A.M. I started from my “ boma ” 
at Laiju with about twenty men, leaving the remainder of my 
caravan of fifty all told with the goods, prepared for a raid of 
some length on the elephants which I had been informed were 
on the other (northern) side of the Jambeni range. The guides, 
who had solemnly promised to come the day before, had not 
turned up, according to the usual custom, as it seems, of these 
natives to invariably break their word. Having become used 
to this, I was determined not to let their failure to keep their 
promise interfere with my arrangements, feeling sure that I 
could pick up others on the way. On passing the kraal of my 
“ blood-brother ” I looked in for a chat; and he assured me 
that everything was peaceful for us ahead, which was satisfactory, 
as the Embe tribe, through whose country wfe had to pass, are 
a treacherous lot. We had a thunder-shower on our way after 
