43 o 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
these two as I have always found it; for these animals especially 
it seems almost infallible. One sufficed for each. Luckily we 
met a party of Wakamba just after, to whom the meat was a 
windfall. They were evidently hungry, as they had just been 
rescuing from the vultures some zebra bones left by lions ; so 
the rhinos were not wasted. 
In passing through the Tana bush I saw very few “ fly ” 
(tetse) this time (end of August), and in consequence lost only 
three donkeys on the journey down. From that time on to 
November or December is the safest to travel with animals 
through “ fly ” country, when it is barest. All the rest of mine 
reached Mombasa in splendid condition and perfect health. It 
always pays to give special attention to one’s animals ; and 
whether trek oxen in South Africa or pack-donkeys in Equa¬ 
torial Africa, I have ever devoted much care to mine and been 
repaid by their keeping fat and fit. 
We crossed the river without mishap—this time the 
impassable channel by a bridge—and, meeting fresh men 
from the coast at Mtiya’s with my messengers, were able to 
continue our way with the whole of our effects from there. At 
the little German mission station of Ikutha—the first outpost 
of civilisation reached—though my kind old friend, Mr. 
Sauberlich, had gone to Europe for a well-earned holiday, I 
met with a not less hospitable reception from his successors, 
Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman, than he had always given me, and the 
most obliging and valuable assistance in obtaining supplies to 
last us to the coast. I could not take the direct route through 
the desert from the Athi to join the Uganda road at Samburu, 
near the coast, as the water had all dried up ; but, having 
travelled in former years all along that river, I knew that, by 
following it farther down, I should get a path with water every 
day to Mombasa, though a little longer ; and it is well worth 
while going several days round, rather than risk suffering from 
thirst, and possible disaster, with a heavy caravan. 
In following this river route—one little used—down the 
