428 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
rivers as have a longer course flow for the most part through 
barren and unfruitful lands. 
We travellers and pioneers are too fond of giving glowing 
descriptions of new lands—very lands of promise as they are 
often represented to be, with every possible advantage and 
beauty. Probably the country has been seen after rains, when 
looking its best. One is apt, too, to be captivated the more 
readily with any verdant belt, by contrast to the parched 
monotony which is the rule ; for even the most unpromising 
and arid scrub becomes beautiful and attractive after heavy 
rains. Anyway, I have noticed that the newest district is 
praised invariably as the one most desirable spot on earth ; but 
no sooner is it annexed or occupied, and become familiar, than 
its ideal perfection vanishes, its drawbacks and disadvantages 
are then what are heard most of. Perhaps this part of the 
continent has more than its share of waterless waste. Some 
lovely bits of country there are, it is true. But of how limited 
extent! Moreover, as a rule, where well-watered, fertile, and 
healthy lands exist, they are densely populated already by 
natives, so that there is no room for colonists. What Africa 
lacks are ranges of snow mountains to feed perennial rivers, 
such as would afford unfailing supplies of water for irrigation. 
With moisture, even the wilderness may blossom as the rose. 
It was with much regret, and the hope of seeing them 
again some day, that I parted with these pleasant Ndorobo 
people. Lesiat and other friends gave me abundance of honey 
for the journey, and invoked God’s blessing upon us with 
pathetic earnestness. I have not a doubt that he is hoarding 
honey for me now. 
On our way down we found the country drier than I had 
ever seen it ; no running water where we crossed the Seya, 
and none between there and the Gwaso Nyiro. Our donkeys 
—many of them half-wild Turkana asses—were restless and 
easily scared, and most troublesome during this part of the 
journey. No doubt the terror of the lion attacks had upset 
