374 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
even to find a safe spot to retreat to, but we managed to get 
our dripping belongings carried to a slight elevation—a sort 
of bank of gravel—over which, luckily, the inundation did not 
rise, all hands working with a will. It was not a cheerful 
sight to see the water surging around the stack of precious 
food (the ivory could not be hurt) and through my tent, while 
our belongings were hastily transported anyhow in the pouring 
rain. However, the damage proved less than at first sight 
appeared ; only a few loads of meal were soaked, and though 
the mishap caused us a day’s delay and a good deal of trouble 
to dry everything, no food was really spoilt. As often happens, 
what at first threatened to be a calamity was in reality a most 
fortunate occurrence for us ; even the flood turned out a blessing, 
for we now had an abundance of water where thirst had menaced 
us. Thus the favourite Swahili formula when travelling— 
“ Omba Muungu ” (Beg of God)—seems, on occasion, something 
more than a mere form of words. 
As showing how porters appreciate one’s efforts to get 
meat for them, and prize such an addition to their regular 
food ration when obtainable, I may mention a little incident 
that occurred about this time. I had been rather annoyed 
about something that had been going on in the caravan, and 
had purposely abstained from shooting any game for a day or 
two in consequence. The men knew the reason, and the 
pressure thus brought quietly to bear had a salutary effect. 
One evening, after I had lain down, and while having my last 
smoke, Abdulla came into my tent, and after squatting down 
and turning his head about (to the accompaniment of sundry 
little preliminary coughs) in his usual nervous manner when he 
had anything in the nature of a favour to ask—a sort of bashful 
smile on his face, lit up by the flickering fire outside,—said 
that the men were bemoaning the meat famine, and had asked 
him to express their regret for having caused me annoyance, 
and to beg that I would hunt for them again. It being against 
my will to deny them, I let him please them by a promise to 
