a herd of oryx beisa, which would in the most tantalizing
manner remain standing until I could get within
500 yards from them, and then wheel in their tracks like
a regiment of cavalry, and charge briskly on. However,
they proved good guides, for they led me to a mass of
thick bush, where they disappeared; but shortly after
entering the bush, from a small rise, I saw at a distance
of 300 yards, two rhinoceroses. The soil at this point
was of a reddish colour, and from rolling in this the
rhinoceroses had assumed its tint. As I descended
from the rise, I lost sight of them, but proceeded cautiously
in the direction in which I had seen them. A t
length I caught a glimpse of a reddish body in the bush,
not more than forty yards in front of me. I took careful
aim and fired at what I supposed to be a shoulder (I saw
but a portion of the beast’s body), and the animal fell.
• The smoke of my shot had scarcely cleared away, before
crashing through the bush came another, and I had but
time to fire a snap-shot, owing to the close quarters.
The animal changed its gait and direction at once,
coming down from a gallop into a trot; and I followed
after it. In my eagerness I almost stumbled over the
rhinoceros I had first shot. He was far from dead,
having been hit not in the shoulder, but in the quarter.
Upon seeing me, he staggered to his feet, and with a
savage snort rushed at me. A lucky shot brought him
to the ground, dead. This was a most fortunate circumstance,
for my gun-Jbearer had allowed me to leave camp
with but three cartridges in my magazine, all of which by
this time I had fired; so that, had I failed to bring the
animal down, I should have been placed in a most
unpleasant predicament.
I returned to camp, tired out with my day’s work, and
sent Karscho with some porters back to bring in the
meat. On the way they came across the second rhinoceros,
which Karscho found limping slowly along on
three legs, my snap-shot having broken one shoulder.
I had given Karscho my .577, for use in case he fell in
with dangerous game; and two shots from the rifle
despatched this my second rhinoceros of the day. The
meat of these two animals was sufficient for three days’
food for my men.
After passing Chanler Falls all mountains seemed to
be left in our rear, and the river flowed between dry
and arid deserts.
While in camp, Lieutenant von Hohnel and I spent
most of our time in conjecture as to the whereabouts
and size of Lake Lorian. When Lieutenant von Hohnel
was at Kismayu to purchase camels, he met a Somali,
who said he had visited this lake. This man told him
it was many days’ journey in length, but that in parts it
was so shallow that it was possible to drive cattle and
camels across it. He also said that the Rendile had
their home upon its shores. Motio added his assurance,
that from what he had heard the lake must be very
large; and that he had no doubt that the Rendile lived
in its neighbourhood. He said that none of the people
on the mountain ever had the courage to visit the Rendile,
but that in former times, when they had raided the
Mumoniot (who had inhabited the b^nks qf the Guaso
Nyiro), they had often fallen in with small bands of
them. He said that they were a very warlike people,
and that invariably upon meeting them conflict had
ensued, in which the mountain people were generally