To be of the same type, there
will be a strong presumption that the true and
the giant eland, like the various local forms of
giraffe and bonte-quagga, are only races of one
and the same species. While, even if the present
specimen be only a 'sport' (which I consider
unlikely), it will serve to show that the southern
and northern elands are more nearly related than
has hitherto been supposed."
1 In error for "British."
As my eland thus proved to be of some
considerable scientific value, and as the authorities
of the British Museum expressed a desire to
possess its head, I gladly presented it to the
Trustees, so that all sportsmen and naturalists
might have an opportunity of seeing it at the
Natural History Museum at South Kensington,
where it now is.
APPENDIX
I.
SPORTSMEN who think of visiting British East Africa
on a shooting trip may be glad of a few general hints
on points of interest and importance.
The battery, to be sufficient for all needs, should
consist of a .450 express, a .303 sporting rifle, and a
12-bore shot gun; and I should consider 250 rounds
of .450 (50 hard and 200 soft), 300 rounds of .303 (100
hard and 200 soft), and 500 12-bore shot cartridges of
say, the 6 and 8 sizes, sufficient for a three months' trip.
Leather bandoliers to carry 50 each of these different
cartridges would also prove very useful.
A couple of hundred rockets of various colours should
certainly be taken, as they are invaluable for signalling
to and from camp after dark. These can be obtained
so as to fire from a 12-bore shot gun or from a short
pistol, and some should always be left with the camp
neopara (Headman) for use as occasion requires.
The rifles, cartridges, and rockets should be consigned
to an agent in Mombasa, and sent off from London in
tin-lined cases at least a month before the sportsman
himself intends to start. It must be remembered that
the Customs House at Mombasa charges a 10 per cent
duty on the value of all articles imported, so that the
invoices should be preserved and produced for inspection.
The hunter's kit should include a good pith
sunhat, a couple of suits of khaki, leather gaiters or a
couple of pairs of puttees, wash-leather gloves to protect
the hands from the sun, and two pairs of boots with
hemp soles; long Norwegian boots will also be found
very useful. The usual underclothing worn in England is
all that is required if the shooting is to be done in the
highlands. A good warm overcoat will be much
appreciated up-country in the cool of the evenings, and a light
mackintosh for wet weather ought also to be included.
For use in rocky or thorny country, a pair of knee and
elbow pads will be found invaluable, and those who
feel the sun should also provide themselves with a spine-protector.
The latter is a most useful article of kit, for
although the air may be pretty cool, the sun strikes down
very fiercely towards midday. A well-filled medicine
chest should of course not be forgotten.
A good field glass, a hunting and skinning knife or
two, and a Kodak with about 200 films should also be
carried. With regard to the last item, I should strongly
advise all who intend to take photographs on their trip
to pay a visit to Mr. W.D. Young on arriving at Nairobi.
He is an enthusiastic photographer, and will gladly
give advice to all as to light and time of exposure; and
as these are the two points which require most attention,
hints from some one of experience in the country are
most useful. I myself am much indebted to Mr.
Young's kindly advice, and I am sure I should not have
achieved much success in my pictures without it. I
made it a practice on my last visit to the country to
send him the exposed films for development whenever
I reached a postal station, and I should recommend
others to do the same, as films deteriorate rapidly
on the voyage home; indeed I had nearly four hundred
spoiled in this way, taken when I was in the country in
1898-99.
As regards camp equipment, all that need be taken
out from England are a small double-fly tent, three
Jaeger blankets, a collapsible bath, a Wolseley valise,
and a good filter; and even these can be obtained just
as good locally. Chop boxes (food) and other necessary
camp gear should be obtained at Mombasa or Nairobi,
where the agents will put up just what is necessary.
About a month before sailing from England a letter
should be sent to the agents, stating the date of arrival
and what porters, etc., will be required. The sportsman
will then find everything ready for him, so that an
immediate start may be made.
Unless money is no object, I should not advise anyone
to engage porters at Mombasa, as equally good men
can be obtained at Nairobi, thus saving 20 rupees per
head in return railway fares. It must be remembered
that for transport work men are infinitely preferable
to donkeys, as the latter are exasperatingly slow and
troublesome, especially on rough ground or on crossing
streams, where every load has to be unpacked, carried
over, and then reloaded on the animal's back. The
caravan for one sportsman - if he intends going far
from the railway - is usually made up as follows, though
the exact numbers depend upon many considerations:
1 Headman ................ 50 rupees[1] per month.
1 Cook ................... 35 " "
1 Gun-bearer ............. 20 " "
1 "Boy" (personal servant) 20 " "
2 Askaris (armed porters). 12 " " each.
30 Porters ................ 10 " " each.
