CHAPTER XVI 



NATIVE HUNTERS AND THEIR WAYS GAME 

 AREAS AND THE WAY THERE 



IT takes a man a long time to know the jungle 

 and jungle ways, but a much shorter time 

 to forget what he has learned. Early 

 training and a keen desire made me a hunter, 

 but a studious life has destroyed much of the 

 craft built up since childhood, some of which 

 must perforce be learned again on every trip. 



To go back to the forest and find how slow 

 the eye has become to see the track or sign of a 

 passing beast ; to trust to compass, watch, and 

 gun-boy, where sun and stars or landmarks should 

 guide one back to camp ; to rely on others doing 

 what had been a joy to do oneself, is to know that 

 town and book have done their work and spoiled 

 some precious sense which Nature taught. Keen 

 sight and observation, quick resolve and action, 

 have all been dulled again by life in cities and 

 laborious thought and work, and it will take days 

 of a man's life in the forest to become once more 

 the hunter. 



To the fortunate person who is to know the 

 joy of the hunter's life for the first time, the help 

 of the native of the country will be needed for a 

 time -needed to take the white man to the game. 



