258 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap. 



animal track. The spare part of the rope is carried 

 along the branch and down the trunk, and run through 

 a loop fastened to the foot of the tree. The end is 

 then stretched across the path a few inches from the 

 ground and fastened to a peg or stump some yards 

 away. The rope at the place where it crosses 

 the path is almost cut through, so that a small 

 pressure will break it. When the animal comes 

 along and strikes the rope with its foot, it breaks 

 instantly at the spot where it is cut half-way through. 

 The block then falls with great force, the iron spike 

 burying itself in the beast's spine. The hunter 

 follows up the wounded animal, which soon succumbs 

 to its injuries and the poison.^ The Wandorobo 

 immediately cuts out the flesh round the wound, as to 

 eat that part would mean death for them too, but the 

 poison does not seem to have any ill effect on the 

 remainder of the carcase. 



As we marched along evening closed in, so a 

 halt was called for tea and also to enable the safari 

 to close up, as by this time the donkeys were far to 

 the rear. When all had arrived the moon was 

 shedding a brilliant light, so we set off again and 

 marched until 9 p.m., when we slept in a rude shelter, 

 the night being so fine that there was no need to 

 pitch tents. We were off again before dawn, and 

 at about 10 a.m. sighted the graceful palms that 



* This contrivance is called an iturerens^eit. 



