222 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
lion. However, as it turned out, we might just as well have 
spent the day in skinning lions, for we could find no traces of 
elephants. 
There was here a beautiful stream of clear, cold water, 
running strongly for some little distance after issuing from the 
ravine before it disappeared in a little swamp in the flat, and 
some pleasant grassy meadows bordered it. It struck me as 
a pity such a suitable spot could not be utilised—say, for a 
mission station,—with its adaptability for irrigation. Baithai 
said that if elephants were anywhere in the neighbourhood they 
would certainly resort to this stream to drink ; so, having 
searched its banks in vain for any indication of their recent 
visits, there was nothing for it but to turn back. I returned 
then to the carcase of the giraffe, in hopes of finding the lions 
there again, but they had not gone back to it nor could we find 
them anywhere about. I then took a round through the more 
open country to the eastward, in hopes of getting some fresh 
meat, but missed a chance at zebra through the sight of my 
Lee-Metford (which required careful adjustment, as it was 
incorrectly regulated) having got wrong, and got back to 
camp empty-handed and rather disgusted with this unlucky 
day. 
I had a talk with Baithai about further plans, and it was 
agreed that he was to send off two lads on the morrow to 
prospect for elephants still farther on than we had yet been. 
They were to return at once if they found spoor, but otherwise 
would not be back till the day but one after. I sent Juma to 
El Bogoi, the morning after, to fetch some more supplies ready 
for an expedition on to the mountains which I had in view, and 
instructed him, should he find the caravan there (as I thought 
very probable), to tell Abdulla (my headman) to come back 
with him. I went out to try for meat, making for some open 
country which could be seen out on the flats. But, while 
passing through the broad belt of thick bush which separated 
us from it, we cut the fresh spoor of two or three cow elephants,. 
