VIII 
EXCURSIONS FROM EL BOGOI 
175 
thorn-trees along its banks, a pleasant sight in Africa, where 
running water is scarce. It was a long, steep, stony descent to 
get down to it, and took us till well on in the morning. There 
was a good deal of water in the river at this time, and I noted 
that it was at this point about 30 yards broad or nearly so, 
very rapid and perhaps an average of 1 8 inches deep, running 
towards the north now. I camped, though it was early, in order 
to go ahead and prospect, as I did not know exactly how 
near elephants might be found. 
During the afternoon I walked a long way down parallel 
with the river. I found the valley similar to where we had 
entered it ; not wide, but pretty straight and even. The river 
was fringed, for the most part, with belts of thick forest or 
dense jungle, of varying width, sometimes on one bank, at 
others on both ; outside this the ground was open, with short 
grass only, and very dry. I saw a few Grevy’s zebra, oryx, and 
Grant’s gazelle, but could not get within shot, though I tried hard. 
On the way back I entered the thick bush bordering the river. 
It was very difficult to get about in, for though the trees, of 
good size, were not close together, there was a dense under¬ 
growth, mostly over one’s head, through which it was hard to 
force one’s way, even in the game-paths. I saw and got near 
a giraffe in this forest, but the covert was so tall at that part 
that I could not see to get a shot, and I then lost sight of it. 
Just after this a rhino came suddenly into view in a little open¬ 
ing just ahead of me, and, for a second, gave a splendid chance, 
but he had already scented me and ran just as I raised my 
rifle, disappearing instantly in the thicket before I had time to 
fire. Finally I caught sight of the head of the giraffe again, 
and fired at it, but missed. On rejoining Squareface, whom I 
had left behind when going after the giraffe, he told me that 
three rhinos had passed close to him while I was away. We 
also saw plenty of spoor, so that there seemed to be lots of 
them there. We got back to camp at dusk, feeling rather 
disappointed, as I wanted meat badly for all hands and 
