PREFACE ix 



whom were entirely dependent upon me tor their 

 daily food, whilst in some of my expeditions my 

 rifle supplied me almost entirely with the means of 

 obtaining from the natives corn, guides, porters, etc., 

 which better-equipped parties would have paid tor 

 with calico, beads, or other merchandise. In some 

 of my journeys I have penetrated into regions 

 hitherto unvisited by Europeans, and in such cases 

 have always macie rough sketch-maps, two of which 

 have been published by the Royal Geographical 

 Society. As these expeditions were, however, under- 

 taken in search of elephants and not with any 

 scientific objects, 1 do not claim any credit to myself 

 for their results. 



Some portions of the present volume have already 

 been printed from time to time in the columns ot 

 The Field newspaper. As the articles in question 

 recounted some of the most interesting of my hunt- 

 ing adventures experienced some years ago when 

 elephants were still plentiful, 1 make no apology tor 

 again reproducing them. My thanks are also due 

 to my sister. Miss A. B. Selous, for the time, trouble, 

 and patience expended by her upon the ten illustra- 

 tions representing the hunting-scenes which embellish 

 my pages, all of which were drawn under my own 

 supervision, and from my oral descriptions ; and also 

 to Mr. Edward Whymper for the careful and pains- 

 taking way in which he has diminished these draw- 



