276 
EAST AFRICA AND ITS BIG GAME. 
those of the male are very much thicker and not so much curved. 
This species has since been christened Hunteri, after Hunter. 
On October 17 we resolved to press farther on, and finding 
it impossible to get through the high grass and thick vegeta¬ 
tion near the river, struck out at first at right angles for the 
“Barani.” Here we began to follow up as near as possible 
parallel with the river. We soon got into some dense cactus, 
and after marching another hour we arrived at some thick forest 
and some fresh elephant-tracks. Greenfield and Hunter went 
forward to reconnoitre, myself and the caravan taking a rest. 
Some two hours afterwards they returned, having found the 
river which we were in search of, but had got lost in retracing 
their steps. We then pushed on, and lunched under the shade 
of some large trees. Later on in the afternoon we pushed on 
to the river, having reached which, I gave orders to pitch 
camp. It was here necessary to clear away a lot of high grass. 
While the men were doing so I suddenly heard a great com¬ 
motion and cries of “ Nyokci, mjolca ! ” (“ Snake, snake ! ”), and 
saw a man being led to me trembling and evidently in a 
very great fright. On inquiring I was told that the man, 
while clearing away the high grass, had been bitten by a large 
black snake. I at once examined his leg, and found the mark 
of the snake’s teeth some four inches above the ankle. I 
proposed to the man to cut open a cartridge, place some 
powder on the bite, and at once fire it, so as to cauterise the 
wound; which I certainly should have done to myself under 
the same circumstances. As he would not allow this, I ad¬ 
ministered ammonia, and gave him a good turn at my whisky- 
flask. After a quarter of an hour, nothing happening, I went 
into my tent, but had only been there another ten minutes 
when one of my men came in to say the man was very ill and 
complaining of pains all over his body. I gave him more 
whisky and watched him for some time, during which he 
continued to tremble and perspired greatly. During the night 
he remained in the same condition, and was very ill next day. 
He, however, entirely recovered in three or four days. 
