264 THE GAME OH BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 



Many of tlie tribes of East Africa leave their dead out to be devoured by hvaenas. I have not 

 noticed, however, that this fact makes tiiem any more addicted to eating human flesh, or any 

 bolder in attacking liuman beings than in other countries. Several instances have occurred in 

 British East Africa, as elsewhere, of tlieir having attacked slce])ing men or horses at night. In 

 Somaiiland they used to prefer the dead horses to the men ; and in British East Africa they seem 

 to rather avoid human flesh ; at any rate, they often do not touch a body the first night. 



The hy;ena, not only in this country, but in most parts of Africa, is regarded with strange 

 veneration and superstition by the natives, and is practically never killed or in any way molested 

 by them. 



In thickly populated Kikuyuland they take up their abodes on the sacred hills or groves, small 

 patches of thick bush or thickets preserved for religious sacrifices and ceremonials from the 

 cutting and clearing which takes place everywhere else. In these parts practically their only 

 food must be the bodies of the dead and a few bones of goats and sheep, for the country is so 

 thickly populated that there is no game. 



I have never been able to make out why they howl, especially when prowling round human 

 habitations. When heard at very close quarters their howl seems to develop into a long moan or 

 wail. They are most impudent on a dark night, and will take skins or meat out of one's tent or 

 house, and are excessively cunning at slinking about in the shadows without being seen. When 

 a hyaena suddenly howls near camp natives always laugh, the reason for which I cannot quite 

 follow. Similarly, when a lion roars at night, natives often begin grunting and talking in their 

 sleep like dogs having bad dreams. 



The animal is very common indeed on the plains, but is comparatively rare in the bush, in 

 Uganda, and the Enclave. It is very fond of walking on pathways at night, and so its presence 

 may easily be detected by its spoor, besides by its howling. 



HYiENA, STRIPED. 



Native Name. 

 Somali Didar. 



This animal is unknown in the usual East African hunting-grounds. He occurs on the 

 German border and also northwards on the Borana border, and is smaller than his spotted 

 congener. He is, however, generally given credit for greater ferocity than the latter. Instances 

 of small parties having attacked zarebas and killed camels are fairly well known in the north. 



IMPALA. 



Native Names. 



Swahili Swala. ,. ■ fOl-o-lubo. 



Masai 



{; 



Suk Agete. (01-daragwet. 



Kikamba Ndadai. Kinyamwezi Mhala. 



K.-ivirondo Niakcch. Ogick (Ravine) . . . Irigutet. 



Kinyema Halahala. 



Although often seen on the plains the animal is more of a bush animal than a plain-dwelling 

 animal. It is peculiar amongst buck in that it possesses glands behind the pasterns; above these 



