) 
XII LAKE RUDOLPH 285 
the large river running in from the north, now only a short 
way ahead, for Mnyamiri assured me we should reach the first 
kraals of Reshiat early the day but one after. Fringing the 
lake margin were beds of tall, dark-green rushes, contrasting 
picturesquely with the numerous white herons and egrets. 
I went out in the afternoon to try to shoot a granti for 
my own larder ; but the sun and wind were together—that is 
to say, the sun getting low and the wind also in the west, a 
most unfavourable combination — and I could not get near 
them, though numerous. The most favourable conditions for 
approaching game are a low sun on your back and the wind 
in your face. Then the hunter is in shadow, the game con¬ 
spicuous, and the wind from the latter to the former ; reverse 
these conditions and the chances are all against him. 
The next day I had the opportunity of examining through 
my glasses some waterbuck (the second lot I had seen), and 
made out that they were not the ringed sort, but a variety 
(probably “ defassus ”) with white patches on the stern in place 
of the elliptical mark characteristic of the common east-coast 
waterbuck. This is the only part of the lake where any are 
seen. Here the shore was fringed with “ suaki ” jungle, with 
bushes in the water too, which was now very muddy but 
quite sweet. We camped close by a very big old elephant 
skull—perhaps a victim of Count Teleki’s. 
Bethinking me that this was Christmas Day, I got out my 
rook rifle and shot a goose, deeming that as suitable a dish for 
the occasion as I could command ; for I had no fresh meat, 
and it seemed a shame to have dry biltong for my dinner. 
Luckily it proved a fat one, and, though so freshly killed, was a 
success on the table. I had no delicacy to bring out as a treat 
in honour of the festival ; no “ medical comforts ” whatever, my 
one grub box containing nothing but tea, salt, soap, matches, a 
little coffee, and a few candles (the latter kept as a stand-by 
in case of sickness), besides some cartridges to make up the 
weight. Nevertheless I enjoyed my dinner, though the 
