In Wildest Africa -^ 



Near some of the drinking-places along the river 

 I found the cleverly contrived reed - shelters behind 

 which the natives take refuge. The immense numbers 

 of vultures and jackals and hyenas showed that these 

 gluttonous creatures had found an abundance of provender, 

 especially near the deserted camp. The vultures, which 

 were of various species, came down from their perches on 

 the trees and settled on the ground quite near us. It was 

 brooding-time for some of the larger species, and presently 

 I found a great number of their nests with young birds 

 in them. It was very interesting to watch the old birds 

 and their young together. 



It took me about a week to decide on the spots best 

 suited for my flashlight photographs. After a good deal 

 of really hard work, and after any number of unsuccessful 

 efforts, I was at last satisfied that my three cameras were 

 so placed as to promise good results if I had any luck. 

 But the fates seemed against me. There were hundreds 

 of different drinking-places along the course of the stream, 

 and with so great a choice at their disposal the animals 

 appeared to give my camera a wide berth. 



Some days later we had an unpleasant surprise. One 

 of my Askaris had gone at daybreak, as was his custom, 

 to examine one of my jackal traps. Suddenly we heard 

 the sound of shots in the direction of the trap, about 

 twenty minutes' walk from the camp. As in view of my 

 strict orders against shooting at game there could be no 

 question of this, we at once assumed that we had to 

 reckon with an attack by natives. In a trice I had all 

 my arrangements made. Dividing my armed followers 



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