36 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



never start out after such an unfavourable portent as a dream of people dressed in 

 dark blue calico. 



A dance called " chipalu " is often held before starting, and again on the return 

 from a successful hunt. 



In some parts poisoned arrows are used to kill buffalo and eland, and are aimed 

 at the animal's flanks and rump. 



There are two kinds of poison used, one animal, and the other vegetable, which 

 are said to kill very rapidly. 



Other game is run to a standstill with dogs, and then shot with non-poisoned 

 arrows. 



This is done by most tribes, the klipspringer being a favourite animal, as it takes 

 to a high peak or rock, and is there surrounded by dogs, and can be approached 

 close, to shoot with arrows. 



The wood of the bow, which is about 4ft. long, is made from a tree called 

 " tenza," and the string of the spinal tendons of certain animals, eland and kudu 

 being the best. 



The arrows are made of a reed called " bango," and are about 2ft. long, with 

 about 6in of soft iron for the point. The point of entry of the iron is bound, to prevent 

 splitting, and it is also bound round the notch. 



Most tribes do not feather their arrows, but the Achikunda use vultures' wing 

 feathers for this purpose. 



The string (" nsinga") passes through a hole bored at either end of the bow, 

 and is then wound about twenty times round before being made fast on itself. 



To tighten the bow, the two ends are bent towards each other, and the slack of 

 the string taken in by pulling through the holes, and then twisting all the turns round 

 till it is taken up. 



The arrow is fired from the left side of the bow, the forefinger of the left hand 

 keeping it in position. 



They are carried by some tribes in a hide quiver, with their butts projecting over 

 the left shoulder. 



Another method of hunting is to fasten a large net across a dambo or open 

 space, and with a number of men drive small game, such as puku, oribi, and reedbuck, 

 into it, and stab them with spears and shoot arrows into them when they are entangled. 

 The nets are made of various fibres worked up by hand into rope, fibre from 

 the bast of the baobab being often used. Where game is very abundant enormous 

 game fences are erected, inclosing all the village and plantations, to keep the 

 game, especially elephant, eland, and pig, from the fields. 



