In the Volcanic Region i37 



coming day, and as the first rays of the sun threw bands of light 

 through the tree tops, the sounds we were waiting for so eagerly 

 were heard coming faintly across the gorge, and we could see the 

 resting place of the game we were coveting. 



Our council of war was soon over. Raven on the left in case 

 the hnpundu should break out on that side, the Father Superior 

 on the right, and I in the centre. The forest soon swallowed us 

 up, and then the fun began. 



The small, supple body of the Mutwa slipped through the 

 incredible maze of creepers, bamboos, and thorns with admirable 

 dexterity, whilst the European in his clothes had to maintain a 

 steady battle with the thorns, which continually impeded his 

 progress. A well-meant suggestion on the part of my Mutwa 

 that I should divest myself of my clothes and hunt in his own 

 costume did not appeal to me, as I had some personal regard for 

 my skin. Having reached the bottom of the hollow and crossed 

 the stream, we started climbing the slope, so as to reach the spot 

 before the apes left the tree from which we had again heard their 

 screaming, a sound which impresses itself indelibly upon the 

 memory. Once they got to the ground they would be lost so far 

 as we were concerned. 



If it had been difficult to get down, we found it almost 

 impossible to climb up again. Our hands were covered with rents 

 and scratches, our bodies were dripping with perspiration, when 

 at last our arrival at an old elephant haunt brought some relief. 

 It was now past seven o'clock, and we calculated that we must be 

 close up to the tree in question. It was impossible to see through 

 the dense brushwood. 



My guide stood still listening, with his head bent forward 

 and his eyes on the ground. Then slowly raising his arm and 

 pointing upward with his fist — to do so with a finger spelt bad 

 luck — he whispered : " Wanakula " (" they are feeding "). So thus 

 far all was well. We crept on further with the very greatest care, 

 anxiously putting aside every twig and dried leaf with our 

 hands. A quarter of an hour elapsed. Once again we stopped 

 and listened. Not a sound was to be heard. Our prospects 

 S 



