ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. I 
bundles and we returned to the “ boma,” reaching there on the 
morning of 14th April. 
The news that awaited me was far from cheering. Although 
before I left many of my donkeys were already dead, I had 
hoped that when those that had suffered most from “ fly ” 
in passing through the Tana valley had succumbed, the re¬ 
mainder would keep healthy ; for I did not then know that 
Laiju was one of the most deadly places in Africa for domestic 
animals, not excepting the generally hardy ass. But on my 
return now I found that all were either dead, dying, or sick. 
This was a great blow, as I knew that without these useful 
pack animals it would be impossible to penetrate far into the 
uninhabited country stretching northward from the Jambeni 
range towards Lake Rudolph ; and though I had been en¬ 
couraged by many promises to hope that we might obtain 
some from the Embe natives, not one had yet been offered for 
sale. However, I determined at all events to explore as much 
of the country as circumstances would allow of my reaching 
in directions where I had reason to believe elephants were 
numerous. Various matters, with which it is not necessary to 
trouble the reader in detail, caused another fortnight to slip by 
unprofitably—I paid a short experimental visit to the Embe 
district, on the top of the range ; and the heavy rains at this 
season being unfavourable to travelling, entailed further delay 
—but at length I was ready to start for another attempt. 
