HUNTING ON THE SIMBA BIYER 245 
beast itself was literally infested with loathsome vermin. 
Ticks in solid layers (like mussels on sea-rocks) clustered 
inside the ears, armpits and in every fold of the hide; 
while creeping and crab-like creatures crawled and sidled 
away—repulsive to the last degree. A few yards out¬ 
side this main lair, the rhino had prepared a second bed, 
where he could enjoy an open-air siesta. The home- 
PORTERS BRINGING IN RHINO HEAD. 
ward march, burdened with that heavy head, besides 
the two kongoni, occupied three hot hours. 
All that evening in camp we had a regular serenade 
of lions, concentrating, it seemed, about the locality of 
the two abandoned hartebeests. We therefore decided 
to reach the spot by dawn, and set out at 4.30 a.m. 
On drawing near the scene, after two hours’ stumbling 
in the dark, as day broke w T e observed vultures sitting 
on the trees above—a safe index that something was at 
the carcases. Any doubts thereon were speedily dis- 
