the land of footprints-第55部分
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We pointed out that the dispute had been amicably settled by the best minds of the time； had passed between the covers of history； and had given way in immediate importance to several later topics。
〃This vacillating policy；〃 he swept on； 〃annoys me。 For my part； I should like to see so firm a stand taken on all questions that in any part of the world； whenever a man； and wherever a man； said 'I am an Englishman？ everybody else would draw back！'〃
He was an incredible person。 However； I was glad to see him； he and a few others of his kind have consoled me for a number of Americans I have met abroad。 Lady A。； with the tolerant philosophy of her class； seemed merely amused。 I have often since wondered how this ill…assorted partnership turned out。
Two other neighbours of ours dropped in once or twice…twenty…six miles on bicycles； on which they could ride only a portion of the distance。 They had some sort of a ranch up in the Ithanga Hills； and were two of the nicest fellows one would want to meet； brimful of energy； game for anything； and had so good a time always that the grumpiest fever could not prevent every one else having a good time too。 Once they rode on their bicycles forty miles to Nairobi； danced half the night at a Government House ball； rode back in the early morning； and did an afternoon's plowing！ They explained this feat by pointing out most convincingly that the ground was just right for plowing； but they did not want to miss the ball！
Occasionally a trim and dapper police official would drift in on horseback looking for native criminals； and once a safari came by。 Twelve miles away was the famous Kamiti Farm of Heatly； where Roosevelt killed his buffalo； and once or twice Heatly himself； a fine chap； came to see us。 Also just before I left with Duirs for a lion hunt on Kapiti； Lady Girouard； wife of the Governor； and her nephew and niece rode out for a hunt。 In the African fashion； all these people brought their own personal servants。 It makes entertaining easy。 Nobody knows where all these boys sleep； but they manage to tuck away somewhere； and always show up after a mysterious system of their own whenever there is anything to be done。
We stayed at Juja a little over three weeks。 Then most reluctantly said farewell and returned to Nairobi in preparation for a long trip to the south。
XXIX。 CHAPTER THE LAST
With our return from Juja to Nairobi for a breathing space； this volume comes to a logical conclusion。 In it I have tried to give a fairly comprehensive impression…it could hardly be a picture of so large a subject…of a portion of East Equatorial Africa； its animals； and its people。 Those who are sufficiently interested will have an opportunity in a succeeding volume of wandering with us even farther afield。 The low jungly coast region； the fierce desert of the Serengetti； the swift sullen rhinoceros…haunted stretches of the Tsavo； Nairobi； the strangest mixture of the twentieth centuries A。D。 and B。C。； Mombasa with its wild； barbaric passionate ebb and flow of life； of colour； of throbbing sound； the great lions of the Kapiti Plains； the Thirst of the Loieta； the Masai spearmen； the long chase for the greater kudu； the wonderful； high unknown country beyond the Narossara and other affairs will there be detailed。 If the reader of this volume happens to want more； there he will find it。
APPENDIX I
Most people are very much interested in how hot it gets in such tropics as we traversed。 Unfortunately it is very difficult to tell them。 Temperature tables have very little to do with the matter； for humidity varies greatly。 On the Serengetti at lower reaches of the Guaso Nyero I have seen it above 110 degrees。 It was hot； to be sure； but not exhaustingly so。 On the other hand； at 90 or 95 degrees the low coast belt I have had the sweat run from me literally in streams； so that a muddy spot formed wherever I stood still。 In the highlands； moreover； the nights were often extremely cold。 I have recorded night temperatures as low as 40 at 7000 feet of elevation； and noon temperatures as low 65。
Of more importance than the actual or sensible temperature of the air is the power of the sun's rays。 At all times of year this is practically constant； for the orb merely swings a few degrees north and south of the equator； and the extreme difference in time between its risings or settings is not more than twenty minutes。 This power is also practically constant whatever the temperature of the air and is dangerous even on a cloudy day； when the heat waves are effectually screened off； but when the actinic rays are as active as ever。 For this reason the protection of helmet and spine pad should never be omitted； no matter what the condition of the weather； between nine o'clock and four。 A very brief exposure is likely to prove fatal。 It should be added that some people stand these actinic rays better than others。
Such being the case； mere temperature tables could have little interest to the general reader。 I append a few statistics； selected from many； and illustrative of the different conditions。
Locality。 Elevation 6am noon 8pm Apparent conditions Coast … 80 90 76 Very hot and sticky Isiola River 2900 65 94 84 Hot but not exhausting Tans River 3350 68 98 79 Hot but not exhausting Near Meru 5450 62 80 70 Very pleasant Serengetti Plains 2200 78 106 86 Hot and humid Narossara River 5450 54 89 69 Very pleasant Narossara Mts。 7400 42 80 50 Chilly Narossara Mts。 6450 40 62 52 Cold
APPENDIX II
GAME ANIMALS COLLECTED
Lion Bush pig Grant's gazelle Serval cat Baboon Thompson's gazelle Cheetah Colobus Gerenuk gazelle Black…backed jackal Hippopotamus Coke's hartebeests Silver jackal Rhinoceros Jackson's hartebeests Striped hyena Crocodile Neuman's hartebeests Spotted hyena Python Chandler's reedbuck Fennec fox Ward's zebra Bohur reedbuck Honey badger Grevy's zebra Beisa ox Aardewolf Notata gazelle Fringe…eared oryx Wart…hog Roberts' gazelle Duiker Waterbuck Klipspringer Harvey's duiker Sing…sing Dik…dik Greater kudu Oribi （3 varieties） Wildebeeste Lesser kudu Eland Roosevelt's wildebeests Sable antelope Roan antelope Buffalo Bushbuck Topi
Total； fifty…four kinds
GAME BIRDS COLLECTED
Marabout Gadwall Lesser bustard Egret European stork Guinea fowl Glossy ibis Quail Giant guinea fowl Egyptian goose Sand grouse Green pigeon White goose Francolin Blue pigeon English snipe Spur fowl Dove （2 species） Mallard duck Greater bustard
Total； twenty…two kinds
APPENDIX III
For the benefit of the sportsman and gun crank who want plain facts and no flapdoodle； the following statistics are offered。 To the lay reader this inclusion will be incomprehensible； but I know my gun crank as I am one myself！
Army Springfield； model 1903 to take the 1906 cartridge； shooting the Spitzer sharp point bullet。 Stocked to suit me by Ludwig Wundhammer； and fitted with Sheard gold bead front sight and Lyman aperture receiver sight。 With this I did most my shooting； as the trajectory was remarkably good； and the killing power remarkable。 Tried out both the old…fashioned soft point bullets and the sharp Spitzer bullets； but find the latter far the more effective。 In fact the paralyzing shock given by the Spitzer is almost beyond belief。 African animals are notably tenacious of life； but the Springfield dropped nearly half the animals dead with one shot； a most unusual record； as every sportsman will recognize。 The bullets seemed on impact always to flatten slightly at the base； the point remaining intact…to spin widely on the axis； and to plunge off at an angle。 This action of course depended on the high velocity。 The requisite velocity； however seemed to keep up within all shooting ranges。 A kongoni I killed at 638 paces （measured）； and another at 566 paces both exhibited this action of the bullet。 I mention these ranges because I have seen the statement in print that the remaining velocity beyond 350 yards would not be sufficient in this arm to prevent the bullet passing through cleanly。 I should also hasten to add that I do not habitually shoot at game at the above ranges； but did so in these two instances for the precise purpose of testing the arm。 Metal fouling did not bother me at all； though I had been led to expect trouble from it。 The weapon was always cleaned with water so boiling hot that the heat of the barrel dried it。 When occasionally flakes of metal fouling became visible a Marble brush always sufficed to remove enough of it。 It was my habit to smear the bullets with mobilubricant before placing them in the magazine。 This was not as much of a nuisance as it sounds。 A small tin box about the size of a pill box lasted me the whole trip； and only once did I completely empty the magazine at one time。 On my return I tested the rifle very thoroughly for accuracy。 In spite of careful clean
