^8 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



In the same way the amount the pointers of the Great Bear have revolved can be 

 noticed, and time ascertained by their means. 



When shooting in a strange country, by the time you wish to return to camp, 

 you have almost invariably made a long detour, and have to make your way back 

 through country not traversed before. 



The approximate direction and distance of camp is known. Presuming that we 

 are in closed country without landmarks, it is then necessary, after making a good 

 allowance for error, to steer wide of camp, so as to cut your outgoing tracks. Once 

 you have met these you are in country you have passed over before and, presumably, 

 know and can recognise. 



If you were to steer straight for where you thought camp was you might pass a 

 mile wide of it on either side, which would not be a great error in a long day. 



If this error was on the side of your outgoing tracks you would be all right, but if 

 it was on the other side you would not know when you were passing the vicinity of 

 camp, as you would be in wholly unknown country. 



Natives who inhabit flat country are generally wonderfully accurate in pointing 

 out the direction of a place they know, and will give an almost exact compass bearing 

 by pointing with a spear or stick. 



At night, however, they are quite unreliable, so at sunset the guide who knows 

 the country should be made to point out the direction carefully, which should be 

 noted by a compass bearing, or by the stars. 



When night sets in the sportsman should march on this bearing, and will find it 

 safer not to allow any native who says he knows the way to change the course till he 

 is convinced that he is near the spot and that they have recognised some landmark. 



Natives who inhabit hilly country cannot point out bearings in this way, and, as a 

 rule, have no conception of direction, as they go by landmarks ; so, in eliciting 

 information from them you should try to understand what marks they are referring to and 

 the position of the place with regard to them, which will need much tact and patience. 



