ABSTRACT
WE left Machako's on Oct. 4th, being three white men and 390 natives, with nine donkeys. Passing along the rolling plains, continually, though gradually, ascending, we directed our course towards the southern borders of Kikuyu, where it abuts on Masailand. Dualla, who had been this way before, acted as guide. These vast plains are literally covered with game. Rhino, ostrich, vast herds of zebra, and many different kinds of antelope will be visible at one time; but there is absolutely no bush or ant-hill to afford cover to the sportsman to stalk. As I had now to begin my mapping work again, I was debarred from attempting any sport, or swerving from my direction. It was often hard to find a point on which to direct our forward bearing, and I remember, on one occasion, sighting on a tiny black speck on the horizon. As we neared it, there was much
conjecture as to what it was, nor was it until we were quite close that I discovered it to be a rhino lying down asleep I I shot him stone dead, with a single bullet from the '577, before he had time to wake and make himself disagreeable ; and my men were able to carry off their fill of meat without even going off the path to fetch it. Shukri, the Sudanese native officer, was a capital game-shot, and secured several animals for his men. I allowed no native, except him and Dualla, to fire at game.
