CHAP. XV 
RETURN TO LAKE RUDOLPH 
345 
depot might be made and whence help could be sent for to 
the coast, or some such scheme. Although, unfortunately, no 
such satisfactory difficulties had to be met, I was anxious at 
least to take as much as my little party was capable of; that 
is, to have no men “ empty hands ” (as it is called) nor carrying 
anything that was not necessary. What I am driving at is, 
that in order to render my caravan as usefully laden as possible, 
it would be necessary to procure several more loads of ivory. 
This deficiency I determined to make an effort to supply. 
Lekwari’s yarns had not been without their effect upon me, 
exaggerated though I knew they must be ; and I was keen to 
see for myself how much substance there might be to warrant 
his highly-coloured pictures of phenomenal tuskers. It had 
been a great source of satisfaction to me that I had obtained 
two or three very fine tusks (well over ioo lbs.) before the 
mishap stopped my hunting ; for I had sold all the ivory shot 
during my previous trip, in the confident expectation of getting 
even better on this expedition, and it would have been a 
grievous disappointment to have had to return to the coast 
without a single really fine tusk to keep as a trophy. But 
although such an ignominious failure was already obviated, I 
entertained a lingering hope that I might even yet acquire 
still finer specimens. 
It was a bad augury for the truth of Lekwari’s enticing 
tales of marvellous elephants just beyond Reshiat, that in 
passing the last kraals, only two hours after starting, he gave 
us the slip and we never saw him again. Two other guides, 
whom we procured there, were equally disappointing; for, 
having accompanied us a little farther and taken us somewhat 
out of our direct course, they failed either to show us any fresh 
tracks or to give us any information as to the game we were 
in search of. The fact is, these people are no hunters : being 
unable to kill game themselves, they take little interest in, and 
are little or no use in its pursuit, though they are ready enough 
to eat it when killed. I therefore allowed these two to go 
