270 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
sickness during the whole of this journey, and never any that a 
pill or two or a few opium tabloids would not cure. My men 
carried far heavier loads than is customary (or even lawful, 
according to present regulations !) in Europeans’ caravans ; yet 
not only did they never complain, but with, as far as I can 
remember, the single exception of a case of gripes or stomach 
cramp, lasting half an hour or so, and one of lameness at 
the very end of the return journey, not a porter was ever 
unable or unwilling to shoulder his load in the morning and 
bring it in smiling to the camping-ground for the day. I think 
I may say that this evidence contrasts favourably with the 
descriptions of the “ sick-roll,” etc., so often met with in accounts 
of African travel. At the same time, meat alone will not do ; 
and, for men accustomed to a farinaceous diet, is less desirable 
even than grain alone. 
To return to my progress on this 13th December ’95. I 
found a pleasant spot in which to camp, beside a little creek, just 
about the right time, with a thorn-tree to pitch my tent under ; 
and after seeing everything in order and having some tea and 
a snack, I went off with one attendant to hunt. I took up the 
gradually rising ground towards the east, the wind being favour¬ 
able—that is, in my face—and before going very far sighted four 
or five Grevy’s zebras feeding on an open ridge. It was not an 
easy place to approach them in, but I was determined to do my 
utmost to get a shot. I succeeded better than I had hoped 
for even. Taking advantage of some little hollows, which I 
managed to reach unobserved by making a circuit, I crawled 
alone to near the brow of the low ridge on which they were, 
unconscious of danger, without showing myself. Then, waiting 
prone till they were turned away from me, I got into a sitting 
position on ground commanding a clear view of them ; shot 
one as soon as it turned sufficiently to afford an aim at a vital 
spot, and, before the others knew what was the matter, had 
given a second a bullet, each, after a short spasmodic rush, 
falling dead. They were two large mares, in fine condition. 
