X 
EXCURSIONS FROM EL BO GO I 
223 
and I thought it my duty to follow it. However, it proved 
labour in vain. They were travellers making straight, evidently, 
for the Barasaloi, where that stream comes out of the mountains, 
which was a very long way off, and not feeding nor delaying, 
so we had to give it up and come back. 
A shower we had had in the afternoon made it delightfully 
fresh the next morning as I turned my steps early once more 
towards the “ Ongata,” or open country, with a view to replen¬ 
ishing the larder, though the glistening drops studding each 
spray made it rather damp work getting through the intervening 
jungle. No sooner had we reached the grass land, which here 
had been recently burned and was springing green, than I saw 
some Grant’s gazelle. At first they saw me and ran ; but, as 1 
sat down and kept still and they did not get my wind (the breeze 
being in my face), curiosity made them come back to see 
what I was (I had left my attendants behind), and I shot two, 
buck and doe. Perhaps the glint of the rifle-barrel in the early 
morning sun fascinated them, as a revolving mirror attracts 
larks. The Grant’s gazelle seemed to be mostly thin here at 
this time (September). I think most of the does must have 
had young fawns, though none were to be seen ; for, when 
quite young, they are left lying alone, while the mothers graze, 
and it is only when accidentally come upon that one is noticed. 
Having accomplished my object, I went back early to camp, 
my men carrying the two gazelles. 
Soon after my return, Abdulla and several of his men 
arrived, along with Juma. I was indeed pleased and thankful 
to see them seemingly in first-rate form and spirits, and to 
hear that the whole caravan was safe and well. They had got 
to El Bogoi camp yesterday, Abdulla told me, and all his news 
was satisfactory, and he had had no mishaps. He had stayed 
so long (this was 28th September and they had left me on 13 th 
August) in order to buy donkeys, having had my permission to 
do so, and had got five. He had brought twenty-four loads of 
beans, which he had been able to buy quickly without any 
