35 6 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
apiece ; those of the smaller bull were rather the thicker, the 
length averaging about the same. 1 
Juma and I were in great glee at our success; and I was 
kept from feeling fagged, on the way back to camp with our 
two tails, by the elation of a thoroughly satisfactory hunt. I 
was especially glad that no refugees were left to scare any 
elephants there might be ahead. Ours was a particularly 
pleasant camping-place, too, to-day ; so that I was able to 
enjoy in comfort the rest which the feeling of having done a 
good day’s work makes so delightful. 
In the big thorn-tree under which my tent was pitched was 
a goose’s nest. I had noticed the goose in it on our way after 
the elephants ; but now, on my return, I saw a vulture in 
possession. I suspected what this meant, and, on sending a 
man up to inspect the nest, the explanation proved to be as I 
had feared. The vulture had breakfasted on the egg—there 
was but one—of the goose, which our camping here had scared 
from the protection of its home. Whether the nest was made 
by the goose itself, or was an old one of some other bird — 
vulture or eagle—which it had made use of, I am not sure, but 
the empty shell was undoubtedly that of a goose’s egg. This 
nest was in the fork of a big bough high up from the ground. 
A few days later I came across another goose’s nest, on which 
also the bird was sitting until I disturbed it. This one was on 
the bushy top of a low, flat-crowned thorn-tree, in such a 
position that we could not get at it, and just too high for me to 
see into from Juma’s shoulders ; but I should say that it, at any 
rate, was in all probability built by the goose itself. Farther 
southward, though, along the lake, trees are scarce, while 
Egyptian geese are in many parts very numerous, so it seems 
hardly likely that they can all nest in trees. I suppose they 
must keep guard over their eggs constantly from the time 
1 These teeth, when got out, weighed 86 lbs. and 83^ lbs. ; and 84 lbs. and 81 lbs. 
It is curious—and it has happened three times in my experience—that bulls are often 
found in pairs whose teeth weigh almost alike. 
