ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
184 
the Barasaloi, which joins the Seya just below where we were 
camped, here a dry, sandy channel (and nothing can look more 
desperately parched than a dry stream-bed). Its valley was 
here narrow, enclosed by steep rocky hills, the bottom of the 
trough having been evidently filled up with alluvial deposit, 
forming a level surface between the opposing rocky slopes and 
crags, under which the water which comes from the Lorogi 
range must pass, though probably at a considerable depth ; for 
the stream is too strong just under those mountains, and dis¬ 
appears too suddenly, to be wholly accounted for by evaporation, 
powerful though that is in Africa. 
The valley was lined with patches of mimosa, the trees of 
considerable size, but without much underwood. As we tramped 
steadily along on the spoor, we occasionally disturbed a giraffe, 
which had been browsing on the thorn-trees, or a few oryx, 
with here and there two or three walleri. These last, when 
standing with the head up, look singularly like miniature 
giraffe, but, on commencing to run, the resemblance at once 
ceases. The head is then lowered, and the long neck stretched 
out straight in front ; and these, with its lanky legs and slender 
body, give the animal a very curious appearance as it starts off 
at a quick trot. 1 It is a very wary animal, and one which 
seldom offers an easy shot. After a time we sat down, for a 
spell, and considered whether it would be worth while to go 
farther. My belief was that the herd was trekking for the 
Lorogi Mountains, for there appeared to be no cover to hold 
elephants that had been alarmed, besides which I doubted there 
being any water in this spruit nearer than the foot of the 
range. However, noticing some big hills ahead, I decided to 
follow up as far as their base, where, if anywhere, the water 
would be likely to reach the surface. Plodding on again we 
came to where the valley curved to the left, and here and there 
we noticed signs of moisture. Soon after, we entered a rocky 
1 These gazelles have been faithfully represented by the artist, from my descriptions, 
in the illustration on page 81. 
