A shallow packing-case, lined with tin, containing my gun, was fastened in the centre of the angarep, and two towlines were attached to the front part of the raft, by which swimmers were to draw it across the river.

Two men were to hang on behind, and, if possible, keep it straight in the rapid current.

After some difficulty we arrived at the opposite bank, and scrambled through thick bushes, upon our hands and knees, to the summit.
For about two miles' breadth on this side of the river the valley was rough broken ground, full of gullies and ravines sixty or seventy feet deep, beds of torrents, bare sandstone rocks, bushy crags, fine grassy knolls, and long strips of mimosa covert, forming a most perfect locality for shooting.
I had observed by the telescope that the giraffes were standing as usual upon an elevated position, from whence they could keep a good lookout.
I knew it would be useless to ascend the slope directly, as their long necks give these animals an advantage similar to that of the man at the masthead; therefore, although we had the wind in our favor, we should have been observed.

I accordingly determined to make a great circuit of about five miles, and thus to approach them from above, with the advantage of the broken ground for stalking.

It was the perfection of uneven country.