crowd of women on the Sofi. side of the river, were
screaming to Allah and the Prophet to protect ns
from crocodiles, we at length arrived.
“ We took a direct course towards the animals. I
had shot on the previous evening, meeting with no
game except a large troop of dog-faced baboons
('Gynocephali), until we reached the body of the tétel
(.Antelope Bubalis), which lay undisturbed ; leaving
people to flay it carefully, so that thè skin should
serve as a water or corn sack, we continued our
path towards the dead giraffes.
“ I had not proceeded far, before I saw, at about
a mile distant, a motionless figure, as though carved
from red granite ; this I felt sure was a giraffe
acting as sentry for another party that was not yet
in view ; I therefore sent my men on towards the
dead giraffes, while, accompanied by Florian’s black
servant Richarn, * who was a good sportsman, and
a couple of additional men, I endeavoured to stalk
the giraffe. It was impossible to obtain a favourable
wind, without exposing ourselves upon flat ground,
where we should have been immediately perceived;
I therefore arranged that my men should make a
long circuit and drive the giraffe, while I would
endeavour to intercept it. This .plan failed ; but
shortly after the attempt, I observed a herd of about
* This faithful black, a native of the White Nile regions, subsequently
became my servant, and for four years accompanied us
honestly and courageously through all our difficulties to the Albert
N’yanza.
a hundred of these splendid creatures, browsing on
the mimosas about half a mile distant. For upwards
of three hours I employed every artifice to obtain
a shot, but to no purpose, as upon my approach to
within a quarter of a mile, they invariably chose
open ground, leaving a sentry posted behind the
herd, while two or three kept a look-out well in
advance. No animal is so difficult to approach as the
giraffe ; however, by great patience and caution, I
succeeded in reaching a long and deep ravine, by
which I hoped to arrive within a close shot, as
many of the herd were standing upon the level
table-ground, from which this natural trench suddenly
descended. I believe I should have arrived
within fifty yards of the herd by this admirable
approach, had it not been for the unlucky chance
that brought me vis-à-vis with two tétel, that by
galloping off attracted the attention of the giraffes.
To add to my misfortune, after a long and tedious
crawl on hands and knees up the narrow and steep
extremity of the gully, just as I raised my head
above the edge of the table-land, expecting to see
the giraffes within fifty paces, I found three gazelles
feeding within ten yards of me, while three magnificent
giraffes were standing about one hundred
and fifty yards distant.
“ Off bounded the gazelles the instant that we were
perceived ; they of course gave the alarm immediately,
and away went the giraffes, but I took a quick shot
at the great leader as he turned to the right, and
o 2