Diary Page

April 1900

Sunday, April 1st, 1900.

Ground too wet to start early so hearing lion round, we all went out to try and spoor. Finding one small trail, Bill won the toss and went on; finally coming to where several had killed a Topi, he tried to follow, but all Rudolph ground bad for tracking. Ghee and I got back to camp at 12 and after lunch we loaded up. Started at 12.30 till 5 covering a long distance of level going. I shot 2 Topi and 1 zebra, losing a second Zebra. Kein lost the ivory sight of my Mauser, so I had to fix in one belonging to my 450 cordite. I never saw such enormous troops of Topi and G. Gazelle,

crossing our path from the Lake in hundred. We camped on a beautiful high ridge only a few hundred yards from the Lake shore round the high water mark some 10 or 12 feet lower than usual. Plenty of hippo and crocodiles. Just opposite is the large flat topped Tuscana hill with its little peak. Had several boys down with fever – no wonder after our beastly wet smelling camp! Ghee lost his spare mule which followed him hunting and then ran away after Zebra.

3rd Camp Rudolph.

2 Topi

1 Zebra 13 miles. 12.30 - 5. (406 miles)

1 zebra AEB

2 foxes WW

1 Bustard JJH

Monday, April 2nd, 1900.

Called at 4.30 started at 6 till 10. Camping on a flat sandy soil in thickly studded clumps of bush. On the march I shot a cow Rhino and had to kill a year old one with her, as he started to make things warm. They were feeding on an open plain over which I had a long run, at last coming up with them. Luckily my new rifle did wonders and never gave the beasts a show. Further on I bagged a Zebra, Ghee getting two; Bill a waterbuck. Crossed fresh elephant spoor, so had lunch early. While sitting in camp, the boys rushed in saying elephant passing close by in the thick bush. Away Ghee and I went with six boys.

Creeping along through narrow tracks we soon heard them ahead, and I directly spotted a big head looking at us over a bush. Calling the others up, we were all standing watching, when without any warning but a loud shriek, the brute came down on us, its huge head and ears extended, seeming to fill all the path. I had only time to call out "look out", when we all fled different ways - I, being first, knew it to be no use trying to bolt back, with so many behind, so threw myself back into a side alley, my shikaree going in before. To my horror the brute turned after us and within 3 ft. of where I was crouching among the impenetrable scrub. Waiting till one was fairly square and seemingly above me, I fired at her head. She staggered and to make matters worse, was falling over on my side. Some extra stout thorns caught her all along her broad side and kept her from rolling over till she recovered herself, or I should have been rolled out flat! Directly after I fired, Kein, who had my second rifle and had bolted direct away, fired at her two barrels. On getting up, the brute luckily, turned away and retreated down its old course. Out I rushed, fearing further mischief unless we settled her, as she had a calf along.

I heard her gurgling in the bushes and imagined she was done, so warning my shikaree to stay behind I quietly crawled in among the bush. Searching round I could not find her. Coming out met Jama, one of Bill's men, rushing madly along throwing his arms in the air and calling me to go, I feared some awful accident had happened, so rushed along the path, only to find myself within a few yards of the same mad devil. With a fearful cry she came down on me. I had no time to turn back, so rushed across her and plunged about 3 ft. into the scrub, where strong stuff brought me to a stand. No one knows what it is to stand there and see the mad rush of such a huge creature and know it is a question of a foot between her having you. I could not fire and knew it would be useless, so stood still. I breathed again as she crashed past, missing me by a few inches with the young one following at her heels. My respite was only for a few seconds, for she came round like lightning, only 8 yards from me and seeing me, trimmed herself for a fair rush. I really thought things were bad! I with-held my fire, hoping she might not come and especially as I could get no killing place to fire at,

knowing my fate was sealed if I missed her. As the huge beast started on her final rush, she turned her head slightly to the left, possibly to see if her calf was safe - it was my chance, and I took it. Bang, went my cordite rifle and the angry beast sank in her tracks with a bullet clean through its brain. I could hardly realise that the thing was over, and no one any worse. After I called up the men and then found Bill had come in below the elephant and had been run all round the place, the beast treading on his hat only a couple of feet clear, while Jama, whom I had met, had been caught and chucked clean over a big bush – luckily no worse but scratched and frightened. Ghee and Mahomed, when running from the first charge had run very nearly aboard of another who charged them. When we all reached camp, we concluded hunting elephant in thick dense bush quite exciting enough!! At night we had no Zereba - many boys being sick. Being in dense bush we thought it quite possible to have camp charged by elephant or rhino, so we all went to bed with rifles loaded, but nothing happened, though I visited the sentries three times.

4th Camp Rudolph.

11 miles. 6 – 10.

1 Rhino

1 (baby) Rhino 2 Zebra AEB

1 Waterbuck WW

1 Elephant

(1 baby elephant)

1 zebra

Tuesday, April 3rd, 1900.

Up at 4.30 started at 6 till nearly 10. Moved along the edge of Lake some way - many boys dropped out sick. I shot 3 good oryx on the march, Ghee got two, one a record. Bill killed an oryx at night and saw a fine black maned lion, who did not wait for a shot! Awfully hot camp, despite strong wind. Passed fresh buffalo spoor, saw quantities of oryx and heaps of giraffe and rhino spoor. Had to shoot one more camel, one we called the mad one. Gave the boys four tins of biscuits and four tins of tea.

5th Camp Rudolph.

1 oryx 9 miles. 6 – 9.45

1 oryx 2 oryx AEB

1 oryx 1 Grant Gazelle AEB

1 oryz WW

Wednesday, April 4th, 1900.

Up at 4 away at 5.30 till 10.30 - dark going first hour. Bill went to hunt lion at dead oryx, but could not get a shot. While marching we saw immense herds of oryx, besides all sorts of other game; then we suddenly met a large elephant slowly walking towards us and our camels. Not being worth shooting we went between it and caravan till scenting us, he trotted away. Further on a rhino suddenly came up among some oryx. I rushed down to cut him off and fired at 40 yards, hitting him badly; followed up and found him very sick, so gave him another which

brought him to his knees, finishing him with my Gibbs. He was a fine big animal. Clarke had another bad attack of fever or dysentery. Camped just opposite Tuscana mountain. Not a tree to shade us from the sun – good grass for camel. Passed some Galla (5) fishing in the Lake.

6th Camp Rudolph.

1 Rhino

12 miles. 5.30 – 10.30

Thursday, April 5th, 1900.

As Clarke was still unwell, we decided to wait over till evening, so went out hunting- visited Rhino carcass in hopes of finding a lion- we got up at 6. I shot an oryx, new sort of gerenook and a good Grant Gazelle. Bill killed an oryx and a Topi, Ghee a large zebra. We had a terribly hot camo - no shade and 97 in shade. We all laid in our tents with wet towels to the wind. At night we moved by moonlight - Left at 8 till 12. Clarke moved on a camel. We had numerous scares from Rhino - the boys all firing, while I tried shouting as a safer method. it was hard work leading the caravan by uncertain light, so as to keep a direct line and still clear of all the old elephant tracks. I had to run back three times to my shikarees, having got ahead and suddenly met

rhino across from the water. However, we all ended up safely about midnight and ready to turn into our beds, with mosquito curtains only. We had our first death - one of the Galla people gone off his head day before and died just as we left camp. While hunting I saw countless herds of game - Oryx, Zebra, Grants, Gerenook! Topi in thousands, waterbuck and rhino in smaller numbers. Clarke felt better after his shake up.

7th Camp Rudolph

1 oryx 1 Zebra AEB

1 oryx WW

1 Topi WW

1 Grants G

6 miles. 8 p.m. - 11.

1 New Gerenook

Friday. April 6th, 1900.

Up at 4.30 and away at 6 - a march to be often delayed are camping. An hour after starting we came across two pools with rain-water (solid mud) so dropped out three camel to load up, as our supply was just off, while here I saw two rhino just feeding ahead. Ghee and Bill went off after them, while I kept guard over the caravan, being so close I feared they might charge if wounded. Ghee got one of them. After following some way he laid down and died. I pushed along with camel and about 2 miles further on Kein suddenly jumped up to me very excited, having seen lion just ahead.

Calling up my paradox and other rifles, we loaded all up with soft bullets an away I ran, seeing two lions some 400 yards to our right front. They soon saw us, being quite open country, no bush all grass. They at once began to move off, to cross our path, so I ran hard to try and cut to off when suddenly Kein pulled my arm and pointed out a third lioness coming up to us fast from behind. We at once dropped down to wait for her, but she pulled up and watched us, uncertain what to do, snarling and lashing her tail. At last she made up her mind to come at us, so when about 40 yards off I took her fair in front and dropped her in her tracks with my Gibbs. Seeing she was helpless and harmless I then fired some long shots at the others. Jama had by this [time] mounted a pony and pursued the others but he only managed to make one stand once and then we lost them. I now returned to find all the caravan grouped round one side of my lioness, who was laid lashing her sides and shaking her head, mad with rage, but, as we all thought, quite unable to get up,

so I sent for my binoculars and took three photos or her in front. Thinking a side view was clearer of grass, I went a little nearer and was in the act of looking through the lens at only 12 yards distance, when suddenly I saw to my horror, the beast rising and coming at us. I had, luckily, given Ali my heavy rifle on my left, and a camel boy my 450 on my right. We all sprang back about three yards, when I dropped the camera. By this the lioness had made a jump on Ali but somehow both barrels went off and also the camel boy fired. This seemed to make her fall just short and instead of getting him fair, she only caught his hand and my rifle, which I picked up later, with trigger pull nearly wrenched in two, while the stock was badly marked. Before she had time to get her legs again, I had seized the 450 from the camel boy and with the last barrel left, dropped the beast at 5 yards distance. Now we discovered a bad accident had happened, for in the excitement of the charge all the boys had bolted and a rifle going off had somehow hit something, the bullet all broken up and badly

wounded another boy – being shot in 5 places. We got him on top of a camel and pushed on to camp; where we dressed his wounds. On the way a rhino came and stood very near our line, so letting the caravan pass, I crawled up in open country and finished her off. Again a hot day and little shade.

8th Camp Rudolph.

1 Lioness 10 miles. 6 - 10.30

1 Rhino 1 Rhino AEB

Saturday, April 7th, 1900.

Up at 4 away at 6 till 11. A lot of men ill, Mahomed among others. Had two miles of bad rocky road, just on the edge of Lake - saw hippo and plenty of crocodiles. Found some splendid feed and two rain-water holes . Heaps of Rhino about - had 4 come close by during lunch, two of them charging our donkeys, cows and goats, making them bolt all ways till the boys shouted them off. When at dinner another Rhino came close to camp, so we all went out. I fired and think hit him, but he ran and we dare not follow him far. We are camped on hot dry sand - only one thin tree.

9th Camp Rudolph.

12 miles - 6 - 11.

1 Grant Gazelle

Sunday, April 8th, 1900.

Up at 4 away at 6. Lots of men sick but Clarke able to ride wretched country - no game hardly. Shot an oryx and waterbuck. Camp with no shade - 2 ponies left behind.

10th Camp Rudolph.

1 oryx 13 miles. - 6 - 11.30.

1 waterbuck

Monday, April 9th, 1900.

Up at 3.45 started at 5.45. Had to wait some time to transfer sick boys to camel. Mahomed very bad also. I shot an oryx and three Grant Gazelle - wanted meat for soup. Camped on a river but no shade - found some pools of water, so filled up our barrels. Bill shot a G-G.

11th Camp Rudolph.

1 oryx

12 miles. 6.15 - 10.15.

3 Grant Gazelle

1 Grant Gazelle WW

Tuesday April 10th, 1900.

Up at 4 and away at 5.30. Camped in a lovely park like place on a river, where after digging 4 ft. holes we found good water - did 4 ¾ hours. Jama returned with our two lost ponies. I shot a Grant, Bill a zebra; Mahoned, Hassan and Fara all seriously ill. Having a long march of two days before striking the Lake, decided to move at night. Started at 9.30 till 12. Good moon and river bed made things pleasant.

12th camp Rudolph.

1 Grant Gazelle

1 Zebra WW

11 miles. 5.30 - 10.15 (502 miles)

Wednesday, April 11th, 1900.

Up at 4 away at 6.15; camped at 10.45. Mahoned still very bad, so I again had to lead. We managed to strike a splendid route quite straight. Had to shoot a camel on road. Invalids a little better but still bad.

13th camp Rudolph.

13 miles. 6.15 - 10.45.

1 Zebra

Thursday, April 12th, 1900.

Up at 3.15 away at 5. Followed river beds while dark. Camped 1 mile from Lake at 10.30. I shot Zebra, Ghee a G.G. Mohomed better - other boys the same.

14th Camp Rudolph.

14 miles. 5 -10.30.

1 Grant Gazelle AEB

Friday, April 13th, 1900.

Called at 3 away at 5. Camped at 9.30 on a fine broad dry river, but digging a hole we got good water. I shot an oryx on the march, Bill a Grant, Ghee a jackal. Just before camping, we came on fresh buffalo spoor; followed up and came on 6 in thick bush. Bad luck being in two lots - they got our wind and rushed away, going for miles down, wind made it quite hopeless to follow. Mahomed better.

15th Camp Rudolph.

1 oryx 10 miles. 5 - 9.30

1 Grant Gazelle WW

1 Jackall AEB

Saturday, April 14th, 1900.

Up at 2, away at 3.30; camped at 9.30. A good flat country for marching - enormous number of dry rivers. Passed the fishing villages and watched all the inhabitants packing up and flying from us in their boats.

16th camp Rudolph.

15 miles . 3.30 - 9.30

Sunday, 15th April, 1900.

Up at 2 away at 3.15; camped at 9.45. One camel taken sick on the way - died on reaching camp. Had a novel experience of shooting hippo by moonlight clad in pyjamas, which suffered among thorns. Ejal came at 1.30 to say hippo feeding close to camp - got up and saw two. Having called Ghee, out we went - stalked within some 70 yards, when smaller one bolted. Ghee then fired and I followed as the big one turned to quit, bringing him down, crippled in the back; we soon finished him off - a fine bull. Saw more people but all took to their boats.

17th Camp Rudolph.

1 Hippo 15 miles. 3.15 - 9.45

Monday, April 16th, 1900.

Up at 2 away at 3.15. Did a long, tiring march and camped near Kulal mountain, where we found plenty of good water from a real hot spring. On the way by moonlight I met 6 hippo - shot one but died in water. Killed a zebra and G. Gazelle. Sent 6 men ahead to sleep out and try to find a road and water. Passed more fishing villages. Ground stony.

18th Camp Rudolph.

1 Hippo 15 miles. 3.15 - 10.30.

1 Zebra

1 Grant Gazelle

Tuesday, April 17th, 1900.

Up at 2.45. Ghee and Bill went off to Mt. Kulal to try for koodoo. Ghee got a perfect beauty. I went off to look over road. Shooting 3 G. Gazelle and a Jackal. Jama found no road via Kulal and no water.

3 Grant Gazelle (52 1/8) 1 Gt Koodoo AEB

1 Jackall JJH

Wednesday, April 18th, 1900.

Up at 2.30 away at 3.45. Bad stony road, a lot on shore of Lake. My mule bolted while taking a photo - galloped down a steep rocky gully then started buck jumping. Finding we were going over, I had to chuck the binocular, which, alas, smashed in bits. I got an awful cropper, though saved myself by my hands from broken bones.

19th Camp Rudolph.

12 miles. 3.45 - 9.45 (606 miles).

Thursday, April 19th, 1900.

Up at 2 away at 3.45. Did a long trek till 10.30 over terribly stony road. I shot a G-Gazelle. Bill also. Had a terrific storm of wind – blew our tents all about and had to hold our plates while eating. One camel died.

20th Camp Rudolph.

1 Grant Gazelle

11 miles . 3.45 - 10.30.

1 Grant Gazelle WW

16 = 200 miles.

Friday, April 20th, 1900.

Owing to boys not finding road we had a long morning in bed - breakfast at 10! Jama came in at 12 with news of road so moved at 1.45 - filled all barrels in case of no water. Left the Lake looking lovely. Had some bad going and a big hill at finish. Camped in Delamere's old Zereba.

1st Camp from R.

8 miles. 1.45 - 5.15.

Saturday, April 21st, 1900.

Moon so bad did not get up till later. Called at 3.30 away at 5 till 8.50. Had some good hill climbing and bad going, so only made short march.

2nd Camp from R. 1800 ft. above Lake.

4 miles . 5 - 8.30.

Sunday, April 22nd, 1900.

Up at 3 away 4.30. Had a long march till 11. Went over some awful hills and covered with rocks. However, we landed all safe, though Delamere lost a camel on same march. Saw Giraffe but it went, then met a rhino, which I successfully stalked and dropped with one cordite shot - fine bull - thick horns . Camped at foot of Nyiro Mt. Boys gone on to look for water.

3rd Camp from R.

9 miles. 4.30 - 11

1 Rhino 1 Klipspringer - WW

1 iguana - JJH

Monday, April 23rd, 1900.

Up at 2 away at 3.30; camped at 8.30. Did a good march - nearly level going along the foot of big hill. Just before camp we saw two giraffe which I went after. Had a 5 mile run and in very thick bush - at last I shot them both right and left within 50 yards. Gaidi returned having caught three Galla who shied spears at him.

4th Camp Rudolph.

2 Giraffe 12 miles. 3.30 - 8.30.

Tuesday, April 24th, 1900.

Up at 3 away at 4.15; did a good level march till 9. Just before camping we saw a buffalo feeding in bush. Got a snap shot and brought him down - but he got up and crashed into a thick patch. I got Ghee and Bill and then surrounded it, while I crept in. Unluckily the brute broke out behind before I could get out, so gave us the slip. Drove all the valley later, but blank. More natives came in and also Delamere's guide to Beringo - rather lucky.

5th Camp Rudolph. (Mount Nyiro)

12 miles 4.15 - 9 (662 miles).

Wednesday, April 25th, 1900.

Up at 6 and went off to try for buffalo but found nothing. Had many natives - Boma and Lokuba - down to call. Bought 3 sheep. Clothes are with most entirely disposed of. They slit the bottom of ear and insert the largest round of wood or 4 cartridge cases in. They go in for dressing their hair in many styles - small curls, smeared with a red brick dust looking best. Bows and poisoned arrows with long spears are their chief weapons. They are well built and fed people, keeping cows, donkeys and sheep. we moved at 1 till 6. 45 picking up water en route. Sas Giraffe and Gt. Koodoo.

6th camp Rudolph.

13 miles. 1 - 6.45.

Thursday, April 26th, 1900.

Up at 3.30 away at 5: camped at 9.30. Splendid level going; on the way I killed a huge Giraffe 16 ft - 9 high. Only camped for

lunch and moved again at 3 till 6.45. I shot a G.Gazelle on the way - saw a lot of Ostrich. Found a tribe located here called "Semirides" - had sheep and cows.

7th Camp from Rudolph.

11 miles 5 - 9.30

10 miles 3 - 6.45

1 Giraffe 1 Grant Gazelle WW

1 Grant Gazelle 1 Ostrich WW

Friday, April 27th, 1900.

Up at 3.30 away at 5 till 9.30. On the march came on a large troop of Eland, some 50 or more. Managed to kill 4 from a ridge top. Ghee also got one later and a Klipspringer. Had intended doing a double trek, but having so many skins to do, we stayed over. Saw no less than five rhino in half an hour - could have shot 5 at 20 yards, as they ran right down the line. Not having good horns, I merely walked alongside them in case they turned nasty and charged.

8th camp Rudolph.

1 Eland AEB

1 Klipspringer AEB

4 Eland 10 miles. 5 - 9.30.

Saturday, April 28th, 1900.

Up at 4 away at 5.30 - camped for lunch about 9, then moved at 3 till 6.30. Had a terrible steep, heavy climb just at end of day. I wounded a fine Eland. We came upon 8 lion in a deep valley while sitting on top of the hill – they suddenly ran up the other side; though a long way off, we all fired some 15 shots without results, except drawing blood from one- weather very cool at night, being very high up.

9th Camp Rudolph. Elevation 5800

1 Striped Hyaena AEB

1 Grant Gazelle AEB

14 Miles. ( 5.30 – 9.

(3 -6.30

Sunday, April 29th, 1900.

Called at 4.30 so away at 6 to 11. Had some very bad hill climbing. Had to shoot another Camel. I shot a waterbuck and 3 of a new Antelope. Had heavy rain in afternoon - got an awful soaking. Lost a bay pony.

10th Camp from Rudolph. Altitude 7200.

9 miles. 6 - 11

3 JJH antelope

1 Waterbuck

Monday, April 30th, 1900.

Owing to wet, did not breakfast till 9. Started at 11.30 till 4.30. Had a lot of rain all the time, made the going bad, another camel gave out - had to be shot. Came into rather fine timber.

11th Camp from Rudolph. Altitude 8400.

12 miles. 11.30 - 4.30