I managed at length to get a
tolerable shot at one of the beautiful teel antelopes (Leucotis), by
creeping up the broken bed of a water-course until I arrived at a
white-ant hill. On my way home I shot a gazelle, thus the natives all
had flesh from the two animals on the first night of the march.
The wives appeared to be excellent women, as they arrived in great
numbers with a quantity of hard porridge made of dhurra flour, which was
to form the commissariat for a journey of nearly 160 miles to Unyoro and
back.
If a native travels through wilderness, he will always make forced
marches, thus the Fatikos would only sleep one night upon the road of
seventy-eight miles when on the return journey.
On the following morning, we were rather late in starting, as more women
arrived with food, and certain farewells took place. The Fatiko natives
appeared to be very superior to the Lobore, as not one man absconded. In
fact, one native who had a swollen leg which prevented him from walking,
actually sent back his cow with an explanation of the cause of absence.
On 19th March we started at 6.50 a.m., all our carriers being well
provided with food. The country was as usual a well-watered undulating
prairie, abounding in game. At this season the journey was very
delightful, but when the grass is about nine feet high it is simply
detestable travelling.
On the march, we, as usual, led the way. Lieutenant Baker dismounted for
a shot at a splendid buck (Leucotis), which he wounded somewhere behind,
and the animal made off in evident discomfort. This was a signal for the
natives, who immediately put down their loads and started off in
pursuit, like a pack of hounds.
Although the animal was badly hit, the pace was very great, and it went
along the face of the opposite undulation followed by the extraordinary
runners, who, with their long springing strides, kept up a speed for
about three-quarters of a mile that at length brought the leading native
sufficiently near for throwing his lance. The next moment a crowd of
hungry fellows fell upon the welcome name like starving wolves.
After a march of twelve miles we arrived at a rocky stream of clear
water, which is another channel of the Un-y-Ame river, that carries off
the main drainage of this country. We halted to refresh the people and
to have our breakfast on the clean rock that bordered the stream, and
started for the afternoon march at 2 p.m.
During the march I endeavoured to stalk a large bull tetel (Antelope
bubulis), but there was very little chance in so open a country.
