104 In the Heart of Africa 



with my best thanks, for distribution among my people. More 

 friendly relations now set in between us and the islanders. They 

 daily brought us a few bunches of bananas and some fowls, and 

 received stuffs and beads in exchange. They also served us as 

 guides upon our excursions into the forest. 



This was more difficult to reach from our camp than had 

 appeared, for it began some hundred metres or so above the 

 banks of the lake. An extremely steep and slippery path led up 

 to it over clayey soil made soft by the rain. Out of breath 

 and dripping with perspiration, we got to the edge of the forest, 

 convinced that it would not be possible, as we had hoped, to 

 set up our camp there. The Kwidschwi forest is very beautiful. 

 High-standing trees, chiefly ■parinarhim and sapoiacece, many 

 liane, and most luxuriant brushwood make it almost impossible 

 to swerve from the narrow path which penetrates deep into the 

 forest. When chasing the long-tailed monkeys, which the natives 

 say are the sole larger mammals of the island, I learned to know 

 that forest. Monkey hunting is without doubt one of the most 

 difficult tasks that confronts the zoological collector in Africa. 

 The animals are very timid, and conceal themselves in troops 

 amongst the loftiest tree-tops, but often betray themselves by 

 their restlessness and their characteristic harsh cries. Then the 

 question is how to get within shooting distance. Through the 

 densest underwood you go, up the steep slopes, and down them, 

 with arms and legs caught by thorns and liane, or with them 

 clinging round your rifle and your neck. Creeping slowly on all 

 fours through the tangle, perspiring and covered with dirt, you 

 stand at last, with a racing pulse, at the foot of the tree you 

 want ; but the noise made by your stalking has scared the 

 monkeys away some time ago. The direction in which the troop 

 has fled is only indicated by a rustling in the branches of 

 some neighbouring trees. This happened to me repeatedly dur- 

 ing the first few days of our stay at Kwidschwi, so that I 

 quite lost heart. I could only set all my hopes on the Batwa, 

 the famous pygmy hunters, whom Tamate had promised to bring 

 along. 



