CHAPTER IV 



MY FIRST LION 



WITHIN a day after our arrival in camp 

 our porters had given each member 

 of the Roosevelt African expedition a 

 name that corresponded with his duties. The 

 colonel was Bwana Macouba, "the big master"; 

 Kermit, his son, was Bwana Macdogo, "the son 

 of the big master"; Doctor Mearns was Bwana 

 Doctor o; Heller, who took care of all the large 

 specimens, was Bwana Engose, "the skin mas- 

 ter"; and I, whose duty it was to study the hab- 

 its and preserve the skins of small mammals, 

 most of which came under the head of rats and 

 mice, was given the undignified name of Bwana 

 Panya, "the mouse master." 



In the eyes of these natives the position of 

 Bwana Panya was a most degrading one, for 

 they could not understand of what use the skins 

 of rats and mice could be to any one. They 

 thought that I was wasting my time when on 

 all sides there were herds of zebras, wildebeests, 

 hartebeests, and other game. Game was eny- 



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