The
Consequence Was That Men, Women And Children In
Every State Of Disease And Crippledom Came And
Besieged Our Camps, Begging For Some Of The
Magical Dawa (Medicine).
I used to do what I
could, and only hope I did not injure many of
them; but it was heartrending to see some of the
quite hopeless cases I was expected to cure.
After we had climbed the Subu Ko Lultian
and got a footing on the plateau, we pitched our
camp on the banks of the Angarua river, where
we found a big Masai kraal, the inhabitants of
which seemed much astonished at our sudden
appearance in their neighbourhood. They were
very friendly, however, and visited our camp in
swarms an hour or so after our arrival. Riding
my pony and accompanied by Landaalu as
interpreter, and my gun-bearer Juma, I returned
their call in the afternoon, when the elmorani
(warriors) gave for my entertainment an
exhibition of the gymnastic exercises which they
practise regularly in order more particularly to
strengthen their legs and render them supple.
After the performance I asked if there was any
game about and was told that some might be
found a few miles to the north of the kraal; so
I set out at once with Landaalu and Juma to
try my luck. It was a perfect afternoon, and
no sooner had I cleared the belt of scrub which
grew round the kraal, when by the aid of my
glasses I saw a herd of zebra and other game
away in the distance, feeding peacefully on the
rolling prairie. I made my way steadily towards
them, and noticed as I went that a couple of
eland were gradually drawing away from the rest
of the herd. I marked these for my own, and
carefully noting the direction they were taking,
I dismounted and made a detour round a rise
so as to lie in wait for them and cut them off.
My plan succeeded admirably, for the two fine
animals continued to come straight towards me
without suspicion, feeding quietly by the way.
When they got to within eighty yards or so, I
picked out the bigger head and was only waiting
for him to make a slight turn before pulling the
trigger, when bang went the heavy rifle of one of
my companions about half a mile away. In an
instant the two eland had bounded off, and I
decided not to risk a shot, in the hope that they
would soon settle down again and give me another
chance.
Mentally blessing my friend for firing at this
untimely moment, I watched them make for a
belt of wood about a mile further on, hoping
against hope that they would remain on the near
side of it. No such luck, however, for they
plunged into it and were quickly swallowed up
out of my sight. Running to my pony, which
Landaalu had dexterously brought up, I galloped
in the direction of the spot in the trees where
the eland had disappeared; but imagine my
vexation when I found that I had to pull up
sharp on the edge of a nasty-looking swamp,
which at first sight appeared too boggy and
treacherous to attempt to cross.
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