The Land of Footprints

Of the first type is the book that is written to make the most of far travels, to extract fromadventure the last thrill, to impress the awestricken reader with a full sense of the dangerand hardship the writer has undergone. Thus, if the latter takes out quite an ordinaryroutine permit to go into certain districts, he makes the most of travelling in "closedterritory," implying that he has obtained an especial privilege, and has penetrated wherefew have gone before him. As a matter of fact, the permit is issued merely that theauthorities may keep track of who is where. Anybody can get one. This class of writer tellsof shooting beasts at customary ranges of four and five hundred yards. I remember one inespecial who airily and as a matter of fact killed all his antelope at such ranges. Most menhave shot occasional beasts at a quarter mile or so, but not airily nor as a matter of fact: rather with thanksgiving and a certain amount of surprise. The gentleman of whom I speakmentioned getting an eland at seven hundred and fifty yards. By chance I happened tomention this to a native Africander