XV 
RETURN TO LAKE RUDOLPH 
365 
would send all flapping off to wait a few yards away till 
another volunteer should summon up courage to renew the 
attempt. 1 
On the 26th I sent for the tusks of the first two bulls. 
They had been shot five days, and I knew that the ivory would 
come out easily; and as the caravan ought to arrive in a 
day or two, I wanted to get all together in readiness. For 
that reason it was necessary to extract the teeth of the other 
three on the following day, so that there might be no needless 
delay later. Being fresher, and so large, these took some 
chopping to get out ; but they were all brought in in triumph, 
and when laid out side by side at the foot of the tree in front 
of my tent these ten magnificent teeth made a fine show. 
Abdulla and his party had only heard of the bagging of the 
first two elephants ; so when the “ safari ” came in early on 
the 28th, the row of splendid ivory caused quite an excitement, 
and they were examined and lifted with eager interest, while 
Abdulla himself was in great glee. 
I should explain that all the best porters take a pride 
in carrying the biggest ivory, and it is a point of honour with 
all the leading ones to have a heavy tusk apiece assigned to 
them, these always being given precedence at the head of 
the caravan. Thus if one of the best men was not entrusted 
with such a burden he would consider himself slighted. In 
this way my “ kilangozi ” or leading porter (a most important 
personage 2 ) had immediately taken possession of the heaviest of 
1 The proper way to cure meat as ‘ ‘ biltong ” is to hang it in the shade. It then dries by 
the action of the wind, if the weather be suitable, while remaining sweet. Made of good, 
tender meat, it is first-rate, when successfully cured, either roasted crisp on the embers or 
pounded, moistened and fried, or may even be eaten raw. Swahilis, however, like more 
tasty food (as any one may tell who has passed near a shop where the dried fish they 
particularly affect is exposed for sale) ; and they designedly spread their strips of meat 
on the ground in the fierce sun. Treated thus it acquires a relish which was rather a 
trial to me when the porters carrying my box or furniture had tied any, during the march, 
on top of their loads. 
2 Much depends on the “kilangozi,” and it is policy to keep him in good humour. 
Mine I always conciliated by conferring little favours—such as a small special present ot 
meat when it was scarce, or an occasional bit of calico (such trifles are highly prized in 
