io4 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
Two were, however, behind, and had not yet crossed the gully, 
so I ran down to try to cut them off; but they put on a spurt 
and I only managed to get a stern shot at one. Being above 
her the bullet caught her in the back (as it afterwards turned 
out), and told loudly ; but they went off, and we had to give 
up the chase, as it was getting late. This cow was, however, 
found a few days after by some Ndorobos, and I got the ivory 
all right. 
On starting back for camp I sent one of my young 
Ndorobo companions to call the two headmen of their clans, 
and on reaching camp, about sundown, they met me. There 
being heaps of meat in the wind they made no delay or excuses. 
I am bound to say, though, that these people are far more 
reliable, as a rule, than most Central African savages. On 
giving them leave to take possession of the elephants (ap¬ 
portioning each tribe its share, to prevent any quarrelling), I 
told them they must bring me some honey. This they 
promised to do as soon as they had eaten the elephants. They 
fulfilled their promise loyally later on, bringing me a liberal 
supply of the most beautifully clear, luscious honey. I find 
that honey is almost a necessity in the “ bara.” It is the only 
sweet thing one gets, for sugar one cannot carry sufficient of to 
last ; and when living on nothing but the simplest and coarsest 
food with meat, one has a craving for something sweet and 
does not feel satisfied or strong without it. The Ndorobos 
depend largely on it, especially for their children. It is a 
wonderful country for flowers, and seldom dries up near the 
Lorogi owing to the frequent mountain showers ; and bees in 
consequence thrive and accumulate great stores. I found a 
kind of wild fruit or bean (something like acorns), which the 
natives eat, very good when thoroughly boiled and eaten with 
honey, and it was a great stand-by while I was in that part. 
My poor old Ndorobo follower whom I called “ Papa ” had 
cut his hand while cutting up the elephant shot previously, 
and the meat, being somewhat high, had poisoned his blood 
