256 
ON SAFARI 
Voi 
There is certainly a period when Oryx callotis 
frequents this region, and the same applies to Simba 
and Sultan Hamud. But March is not that period. 
Hence here again our continued search proved fruitless. 
Not an oryx was seen. The true home of this species 
lies further south—towards Kilimanjaro and in the 
German territory. 
Having secured two Wateita guides who knew the 
bush and assured us they could show us at any rate 
lesser koodoo, eland, and I knew not what else, we 
scoured the bush-country lying towards the west below 
the mountains. It was fairly thick, though opens were 
interspersed, but at this season almost bare of game 
save Hinde’s dikdik (Madoqua hindei) and a few 
impala. 
The presence of game at other seasons was, however, 
attested by the numerous game-traps devised in olden 
days by the savage mind. 
Strong ramparts of aloes, thorns and other impass¬ 
able shrubs everywhere traversed the bush. These had 
probably been planted in the first instance, but were 
now growing naturally enough, and lying athwart our 
path, obliged us to seek a passage elsewhere. This, 
however, proved simple, for presently an opening would 
be discovered leading through the obstruction. Here 
was the trap. This narrow passage-way was occupied 
by a deep pitfall. These were now open and conspicuous 
enough; but one could readily imagine how fatal they 
must have been to game when deftly concealed by a 
treacherous blind of branches, grass, etc. 
On the outskirts of the forest lying under the rocky 
mountain-range to the west we enjoyed our only view 
of the lesser koodoo. It was but a glimpse, for we 
“ jumped” this beautiful antelope a long hundred yards 
ahead, and though we spent the rest of that morning 
following the spoor, we saw him no more. 
There was old sign and spoor of eland, and still more 
