HUNTING AND HUNTED IN BELGIAN CONGO 



the hurry of my departure from Legworo I stuffed into 

 the pockets of my knickers and forgot to remove when 

 wading through the rivers later that day. As they were 

 written with a copying pencil the results were fatal. 



We decided to leave certain of our impedimenta with 

 two boys at Lonely Hill, or Monica's Rest, as we nick- 

 named the camp on the large conical hill. Katodawali, 

 a carrier suffering from sore feet, and Monica, who had 

 recently been playing " old soldier," and caused us 

 constant annoyance by a form of drowsiness that had 

 taken possession of him, and made it necessary for us 

 to travel at a crawling pace, were to be left behind in 

 charge of the camp, likewise the mule, whose sore back 

 had rendered him hors de combat. The old chief was 

 warned that we relied on him to see that the stores that 

 we were leaving behind should remain intact until our 

 return. He was promised a number of beads and some 

 cloth for the safeguarding of the boys we left in charge. 

 He wanted his payment at once ; but we told him that 

 he would get it when we returned and found everything 

 in good order. The old man listened intently to our 

 instructions, nodding his head all the time to indicate 

 that he fully understood what was expected of him. At 

 mention of punishment should harm befall the two boys, 

 he trembled and doubtless remembered more than one 

 experience with the Belgians. 



These people, who have travelled to and from stations 

 or bomas carrying food to the Government representa- 

 tives, are keen to recognize anything that speaks of 

 " Governmentie " as they call it. For instance, on 

 showing the old man a blue envelope and seal he looked 

 upon us as big people and in league with the " Billygees " 

 or Belgians. Often enough since then, by merely showing 

 any paper with a seal on it to a chief, I have succeeded 

 in turning the complexion of my host from its normal 

 colour to a perceptible ashen grev, as with quivering 



iss 



