304 
ELEPHANT-BUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
I was anxious to get on to Kere, where Mnyamiri assured me 
we should be able to buy plenty of “ mtama ” grain, in order 
to make a standing camp and depot ; moreover, the discomfort 
every one experienced here from the nightly plague disposed 
me the more to push on without further delay at present. The 
mosquitoes seemed, if possible, even thicker than ever that 
night, and even I, under my net, could get little rest. It can 
be understood, then, that it was with no reluctance that the 
caravan left Bumi, where the men had all been so miserable 
from lack of sleep, and proceeded on its journey. 
About an hour’s march took us to the extreme point of the 
most north-easterly horn of the lake. Here we were to leave 
the lake and strike across for Murli, a little distance up the 
river ; so, having been told it would be rather a long march, 
I halted the caravan to allow the men to fill their calabashes. 
About here we crossed a great deal of elephant spoor, the 
creek being a much-frequented drinking-place, and even saw 
two, one with a calf, crossing an open glade on the far side 
towards thick forest, which stretches uninterruptedly from there 
to the mouth of the river. On turning our backs upon the 
lake we passed first over pleasant open ridges dotted with trees, 
where was a good deal of game, mainly “ topi,” and I took 
note of suitable camping-ground, two or three miles from the 
water, where I hoped we might be comparatively free from 
mosquitoes, to pitch my tent in on my return for systematic 
hunting after establishing a market. 
Murli 1 did not prove so far as I expected. After topping 
the highest part of the gentle rise between the fork of the lake 
and the river, a winding belt of tall, dark-foliaged trees could 
be seen marking the course of the great affluent ; and thence 
the descent was through thick scrub, for the most part, until 
the cultivated ground in the neighbourhood of the villages 
1 The letter “r” is pronounced with a strong roll in all names in which its sound 
occurs in this region. Thus this might give a better idea of its true pronunciation if 
written “ Murrli.” The “ u ” is, of course, similar to our “ oo ” in sound. 
