HUNTING GORILLAS 205 
of Mikeno, about three hours from the Mission, to 
the village of the Sultan of Burunga who came out to 
meet me. [ explained my mission, and he immedi- 
ately brought forward from the group of natives who 
accompanied him two splendid fellows who he said 
would guide me. There was a gleam of real hope in 
the situation. We would camp at Burunga for the 
night and start up the mountain in the morning. As 
I turned to go toward the indicated camping place, 
a husky, handsome native came up in breathless haste, 
and presented a note of recommendation as gun-bearer 
signed by T. A. Barnes. He was promptly engaged 
and everything seemed bright again. 
I was ready to start soon after daylight. I had' 
felt so keen for the coming of the light and had hoped 
for so much from the new gun-bearer and guides. 
They had a cozy nest some distance from camp; they 
had seemed so enthusiastic the day before and had 
promised an early start. I waited and waited till 
my patience was exhausted. I feared another farce 
so finally sent for them. They came smiling, con-' 
fident, and keen to be off. They insisted that no 
porters could go—it would not be possible to carry 
cameras or any of the scientific kit where they 
were going. It was up to them. I had put myself 
in their hands. I wanted to at least see a gorilla. 
I still doubted that there could be such a thing in 
this part of the world—even though I 4ad seen its 
tracks. 
We started down into that deep chasm to the west 
which the camp overhung, then up to the other side— 
