New-York tribune., 1909-03-22
GAME In EAST AFRICA
4 SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE.
Nr. R0oseueIt's Party Sure of Find
ing Good Shooting.

In the dry bush plains. the mysterious jungles
and thick forests of British East Africa, Where
Theodore Roosevelt and the Smithsonian African
expedition will begin the search Tor specl-
mems of the National Museum at Washington
there is a variety of big game and smaller NAM
mails that makes this the most wonderful snooIihs
ground in the world
Hours before the American party reach the Ju-Ja
ranch a score of miles north OF Nairobi where the
expedition will make its headquarters, game VIII De
sighted the train makes It's tortuous way aIoHs
the Uganda Railroad. There Is no shooting allowed
within mile of the railroad and the sight of herds
OF graceful mpala antelope or the massive eland
grazing along the line within only few miles OF
the coast serves to whet the appetite Tor the
"safari," hunt. to in the Interior lhere is
game all along the line Of the Uganda Railway out
hunters generally go TO Nairobi, some three nun
dred miles inland. Passing Simba, where lions may
be found. the railroad enters the Makndu district
a shooting country.
It is to the north of Ju-Ja ranch, though, that
all kinds of big game abound. A flock OF vultures'
soaring in the air. tells of lion roaming on the
dusty plain. These birds wait to pick the bones OF
the lions kill The country is alive with lions but
few fear them. as they give man wide berth at
all times. Only when wounded and escape Is dis
puted will the king of beasts show fight All
through the night the cry of the lion may be heard
in this territory, and 1t is no uncommon thing FOR
a party of these beasts to sit outside Of house
all night and Skins Of lions that have not
been SCARED in combat with foes or torn in break
ing through the thorny underbrush rare. Hav-
ing obtained a good lion skin. the hunters guard it
carefully from the ravages of the white ant. which
will destroy a skin in night The lion prefers the
plain. where his yellow hide does not contrast with
the brush and underground
THE BUFFALO A FIERCE ANIMAL
In point Of danger the natives of this territory
regard the buffalo herds the most dangerous 10
encounter. and where travelling party of porters
will scarce notice the roars of lioh the sounds
of a buffalo herd Will send them into panic. This
a1aG a,I brar- nd
huntsman needs all his skill 10 make his kill
Wounded the buffalo resorts to ruse Of retreat
ing into the brush tempting the huntsnan TO follow
him. Wheeling suddenly about. the wounded ami
NAL charges the onconling hunter. who, unless he
sends bullet into the brain of the beast is most
likely TO be gored and tramped to death under the
animals hoofs. In hunting the buffalo IT IS Gus
tomary for the hunter to post his shikaris in the
tree tops TO inform him Of tire trail OF the beast
The hunting Of elephants is much restricted in
territory which the Roosevelt party will cover,
and the killing of these mammoths is regarded as
little less than slaughter Modern rifles make the
much danger TO the hunter. Hunting for hippo
potami is also limited the animal is hard 10 10
cate and only found in remote places along the
rivers and lakes The hippo is tinnid and not
considered dangerous unless his escape to the water
is cut of or he is wounded.
The hunt for the rhinoceros IN this region IS no
mean venture for not lnfrequenty the hunter is
hunted and the angered beast breaks up a whole
"safari' party with Of his terrible charges
The "rhino' is very nearsghted. but Is possessed
with a remarkable sense OF smell and acute hear
ing. IN fact his attack IS entirely guided hy these
senses. Sceuting danger from afar, the infurtated
animal charges in a straight line trampling down
underbr7ish and small trees in his path as II he
were making a trail through nothing more than =
flower garden Caught in the whirwind rush. na
tive hunters sometimes stand still hoping the ami
NAL will mistake them for a tree and pass on,
which the beast infrequently does The charg-
ing animal can only be halted with we'll directed
bullet through the eye or heart
CHANCE FOR A WHITE RHINOCEROs-
It is expected that the American party will make
every EFFORT 10 bag the much discussed white rhf
noceros which has been killed of from his original
range IN British East Africa. Besides 'rhinos.'
buffaloes and other large animals. the hunting game
includes girafes leopards. zebras and antelopes
The antelopes Of Africa are most interesting from
huntsman'a point Of view, as they are extremely
difficult 10 shoot Very shy and quick. II requires
an unerring aim 10 bring them down and only |
the best shots successful
In this hunting ground the American party |
will find three species Of the hartebeest. the oryX
the able antelope. the antelope. the oribl !
the lesser reed buck. the water buck the stein |
buck the eland. the greater and lesser kudu. the /
gnu and the hushbuck All these various species |
Of antelopes have keeuly developed escaping facuI
ties Wart hogs. jackaIs. hyenas. together with |
a host of cranes bustards and other feathered |
varieties all help swell the population of the ami
NAL kingdom I'm this region.
No hunters can ever Re said to have enjoyed all |
the experiences OF the African jungle without an
adventure with wild dogs which roam in packs !
and are the dread Of the natives The cry OF these
animals is not unlike that Ieopards smaller |
game, and once heard the natives fly to the tops |
Of trees These mongrel dogs have low bodies. |
covered with thick. busby hair A hunter wound !
ing a wild dog must. according to the ethics OF |
the chase pursue and kill the wounded canine