io6 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
any elephants, on which occasion I came across four cows, 
three of which I killed. While there I was very nearly caught 
in one of the fall-traps we frequently came across in that part 
(the El Bogoi Ndorobos never set them). I was walking along 
a path, with my eyes on a spoor which led in that direction, 
when suddenly my forehead came in contact with a cord 
stretched across it, and, looking up, I saw the murderous 
harpoon in its heavy shaft hanging right above my head. 
Luckily the owners do not set them “ tickle,” lest the wind 
should set them off, and I had not pressed the string hard 
enough to release the impending javelin. 
The little river Seya, which drains the Lorogi range, afforded 
clear proof of the quantity of rain that was falling on the tops, 
being very full all the time. It is curious that none of the 
water from all the country north of the Jambeni hills finds its 
way to the sea, but is poured into swamps or lakes, with no 
outlet. The Seya runs into such a swamp, near the Matthews 
range, called El Gereh. 
I had a fair amount of success during the whole of this 
month ; but it would be tedious were I to recount all the 
details of every day’s hunt. I will, however, add the particulars 
of the killing of one or two of my big bulls ; for I was lucky 
enough to get several fine old fellows with heavy tusks. I was 
back again in the neighbourhood of El Bogoi, the two headmen 
of that district (my particular friends) having come after me to 
report that another large herd had appeared ; and as I had had 
but indifferent success where I had gone after leaving there, I 
was ready to go with them at once. The first day I was un¬ 
successful, getting only an indifferent chance and failing to bag 
the elephant I shot at, though, oddly enough, I killed the same 
one on a subsequent occasion. 
I was having my early breakfast the morning after this 
disappointing day, when three Ndorobo lads came to say one 
of them had heard elephants quite near. I got ready at once 
and went with them ; and we had only gone a comparatively 
