HUNTING AND HUNTED IN BELGIAN CONGO 



hall. There was no curtain, however, to rise and reveal 

 the scene of grandeur, but on gaining the summit of the 

 hills there lay before us a great open country clothed in 

 waving grass, with huts scattered in every direction. 

 Away to the west from where we stood was the Belgian 

 Congo. The hills continued to run away round to the 

 north-west in the direction of Aba. The usual din came 

 from far and near, but few people were to be seen. One 

 or two solitary heads peeped above the tall grass as we 

 surveyed the country below us. Taking care to avoid 

 any cultivated land we took up our position on a suitable 

 spot on the high ground a mile from the nearest huts. 

 By degrees the villagers, attracted by curiosity, swarmed 

 around us as we sat watching our tents being erected. 

 Our camp was pitched on a piece of ground some six 

 acres in area and practically void of grass. In the centre 

 of this there ran the native path which forms the only 

 means of communication with the neighbouring villages, 

 and by which we had arrived. 



Some of the people boasted of old coloured loin 

 cloths tattered and weather beaten. Covetous glances 

 fell on the axes and knives with which our boys were 

 cutting firewood, and a number of the natives began to 

 peer at the loads and inquire the why and wherefore of 

 the many strange things that we carried. A folding 

 washstand, for instance, caused amusement, and was 

 admired by all. They were eager to help in the camp 

 work ; but we politely declined their gratuitous offers to 

 cut wood for us with our tools, for we knew that it would 

 be good-bye to axes and knives if they once got hold of 

 them. 



One burly fellow, however, insisted on worrying the 

 cooks ; finally, laying his bow and personal adornments 

 carefully down, he squatted by the cooking-pots and 

 proceeded to blow his nose in the orthodox native fashion ; 

 in a few minutes he was busy scouring the pots and pans 



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