116 THE ODYSSEY OF AN ANIMAL COLLECTOR 
control by putting out the burning oil section by section, as the 
flames immediately re-ignited; something drastic had to be done 
quickly before the woodwork caught fire, so dashing through 
the flames to the bed and at the same time pushing the men on 
one side, I tore off the blanket and made two circular sweeps 
over the floor, which to my relief immediately obliterated the 
flames. 
On another occasion IJ had to think and act with similar rapidity. 
When I was crossing a settlement clearing I heard a shout ahead 
and saw the herdsman beckoning wildly to me. It took only a 
split second to realize that a mad cow was tearing towards me. 
I have several times since had nasty experiences with native cattle, 
both with bulls and cows with calves. These creatures are often 
friendly enough with people they know, or at least with people 
of the same color as those who look after them, but very often 
native-tended cattle, especially cows with calves, have a rooted 
dislike of Europeans. This was my first experience of the sort and 
as I was in an open place and not near enough to any tree or 
shed to seek cover, my career as a collector might have ended 
there if my thoughts had become in any way confused. No use 
running from an animal whose speed is greater than your own if 
there is no cover handy, and in any case you will be facing the 
wrong way to do anything. 
The cow was about forty yards away and coming at great speed. 
There was no time to dally, so I did the only thing that could 
give me a chance—I charged the cow! Going as hard as my legs 
have ever carried me, and never deviating from the line of the 
oncoming beast, I swerved like a rugby player as we were about 
to make contact, and tore on until I got to the safety of a tree. 
The cow was so bewildered at having missed me that when it 
brought itself to a standstill it just looked round and glared. By 
now the herdsman had come up, and he managed to drive 
the animal to its right quarters with the rest of the herd. 
The bird-life of the lower forest stratum was distinctly scarce 
and most of it of somber plumage, for as I have indicated most 
of the brilliantly colored birds of these forests live their entire lives 
in the tree-tops. There are, of course, certain notable exceptions 
among the lower-level birds, such as the Wood-nymph Hum- 
