254 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
With my camera in one hand, a stick supporting the bird’s 
head in the other, and the skin over my shoulders and back, I 
approached in a stooping attitude, trying to look as much like 
an ostrich as possible. But though the gazelles were evidently 
puzzled by such a curious mixture of feathers and garments, 
and allowed me to get nearer in their surprise than would 
ordinarily be easy, all my blandishments and ostentatiously 
unconcerned peckings at the ground failed to persuade them to 
let me get within less than about fifty or sixty yards. I 
found it very hot and uncomfortable under the greasy skin ; 
and finally, after persevering in defiance of perspiration and 
back-ache as long as my endurance could hold out, I had to 
abandon the attempt with no other result than a couple of 
abortive snaps. 
I had to decide about the route to take before starting on 
for the lake. The natives advised going round the eastern side 
of the mountain, but I had not confidence enough in their 
trustworthiness to rely on their guidance, and would not risk 
marching with a loaded caravan through country unknown to 
us without certain information about the water ahead. I there¬ 
fore sent a few good men on, under Squareface, to explore as 
far as the lake, but chose the western side of the mountain as 
probably the best-watered, and likely to lead us more directly 
to the shores of Rudolph. After an absence of several days 
they returned with a favourable report, in so far as that there 
was sufficient water, though they found the country very rugged 
and stony. Better by far, though, to have some difficulties we 
knew all about than to go a road none had tried and trust to 
the doubtful guidance of unreliable savages ; 1 so I determined 
without hesitation to follow this route. 
A day or two before leaving this camp I narrowly escaped 
being bitten by a very venomous snake, which I nearly sat on 
in the grass. Luckily, when on the point of doing so, some- 
1 I had learned by sad experience, in years gone by, what disastrous consequences to 
a caravan might result from such a course. 
