HERE we are back where we started five months ago. We arrived in Nairobi after a two day run by automobile from the Grumeti. At Guaso Nyero we paid off our porters and had our trophies shipped by ox team to the railroad. These will be sent by freight to America.
Old Solomani, the wounded gun bearer, we have placed in the care of a local physician. He is, of course, crippled permanently in his right arm, has lost one eye with a portion of his face and is greatly shattered in health. His wife came up from Mombasa and cared for him in a most affectionate and understanding way.
White has provided him with a small pension for life, adequate for his needs, and he goes to the farm of P. H. Percival, where he can have a permanent home. His son, an intelligent lad of eighteen years, has taken up his father's vocation and went out on his first safari soon after our arrival.
We said goodby to Solomani and sent him away with many presents and our blessing. He is a brave, faithful Swahili.
Because our expedition was one of the novelties of Kenya, we were invited to an informal luncheon at the Government House. Here we met the representative men of the colony. There are no finer type of gentlemen in the world than these British of Kenya.
Young and I were called upon to show our archery tackle and demonstrate how we shoot. It was an interesting event wherein we Americans, descendants from the great Anglo-Saxon race, showed these Englishmen how their ancestors shot the long bow a thousand years ago. I think we gained their approval of our sportsmanship and methods of hunting.
In the days that have followed, many old friends have called upon White to renew congenial contacts of ten years past. Among these not the least pleasant were the visits from native gun bearers and head men of other safaris. Many were the reminiscences and wise observations concerning the superior merits of ye ancient customs and the decadence of the modem days.
Alan Black, a notable hunter of elephants and other big game, called upon us, with his companion, Mr. Judd, who accompanied Roosevelt. Black is a man of very positive opinions and much wisdom. He is the last of the famous old triumvirate with Selous and Cunninghame.
Alan Black was greatly interested in our adventure because he has imagination and a profound sense of the romantic. But he did not compliment us. He does not do that sort of thing often, but he criticised us very candidly. He said; "When I heard that you had come here with the idea of shooting big game with the bow and arrow, I was glad and admired your nerve. It is true sport. But when I heard that you chased lions in a motor car and were backed up by guns, I was very much disappointed. It was an anachronism and a failure in sportsmanship.
"You should have abandoned all modern resources and gone at the business of stalking and shooting on a purely primitive basis, one compatible with the bow. You should have gone 'native style.' "
Much as it hurts to admit our defeat, I had to concur in his opinion. As archers, we have failed and only by comparison have we any measure of success.
As for shooting rhino and elephant with the bow, he was firmly convinced it could be done. So enthusiastic was he about it that I gave him my eighty-five pound lemon wood bow and a couple of dozen arrows in a quiver, and asked him to continue the experiment. He accepted the offer gladly and assured me that there would be little doubt about killing a rhino on his next hunt. He has shot the native bows and like all good Britons, is a natural archer. So I expect a report of his accomplishment some day.