HUNTING AND HUNTED IN BELGIAN CONGO 



through the town heralded by the Court jester, who 

 always marches in advance of the royal part}'. This 

 " fool of the house " is a tall, cadaverous looking individual 

 arrayed in wild cat skins, and other hides, to say nothing 

 of a wealth of bangles and trinkets liberally arranged over 

 his body and arms. Suspended by cord from the neck 

 he carries a native drum, on which he performs in the 

 most frantic manner. Every now and then he goes 

 through a weird dance with body swaying and bending 

 as he shuffles his bare feet on the ground, making an 

 unearthly din with drum and mouth. To add to the 

 extraordinary appearance of this wild creature, he 

 wears on his head an old weatherworn conical grass 

 hat. 



The King would frequently ride in a ricksha, arrayed 

 in a khanza and fez cap. 



Lieutenant Carew, in charge of the Askaris (soldiers), 

 with another officer whose name I regret I have forgotten, 

 invited us up to their quarters, but as we had to take 

 over extra stores and to repack several of the loads, we 

 were unfortunately unable to get away far from the camp. 

 Carew and myself had something in common, for we dis- 

 covered that he knew several little villages at home that 

 I knew. At one time he had held a commission in the 

 same town wherein I had spent the early days of my 

 youth. Both these young officers were exceedingly 

 agreeable, and were always heartily welcomed at the 

 camp of any safari passing through Hoima. 



Several of our carriers who showed symptoms of sleep- 

 ing sickness were prohibited from proceeding into the 

 Congo with us. The Government doctor showed us how 

 to detect the first indications of this dreadful disease. 

 By taking a firm hold with the thumb and first finger 

 on the glands in the neck above the shoulders, one can 

 feel the hard lumps which form under the sinews of the 

 neck in the first stages. 



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