SOJOURN AT TSEKOU 



to which they give a slight oscillating movement, and each time 

 their swing brings them within reach they knock some of the 

 honeycomb into a basket. They take no particular precautions 

 against the bees ; but when they discover a swarm hibernating in 

 the holes of the rock they sweep it bodily into a cloth, which is 

 then wrung to express the honey from the bodies. Whole swarms 

 are thus destroyed for the sake of a single cup of nectar. The 

 hillmen are very skilful in unearthing the hives ; they even pre- 

 tend that they can track the bees by their almost imperceptible 

 droppings upon the stones. These rock-bees are nearly always 

 escorted by a little bird, to which the natives have given the name 

 of the " bee king." 



But hunting must be classed as the chief pursuit of both 

 Lissous and Loutses. Their weapons of the chase are poisoned 

 arrows, the tincture for which is extracted from a root, and is 

 said to be very rapid in its effects. Thus armed, the natives 

 attack the most dangerous animals, such as bears and panthers, 

 using also swift dogs trained for the work. Before setting out 

 great care is taken not to divulge the direction of the expedition, 

 and the trail is followed in perfect silence. Arrived at the cover, 

 an augury is consulted by means of lots, and, if necessary, delay 

 is made till this shall be favourable. The traces of the game 

 having been examined, posts are assigned and signals interchanged 

 by horn blasts. Well versed in hill work, these men will scramble 

 up the most rugged sides wherever there is hold for a toe, or 

 scale the face of the rock with the aid of pegs of wood driven 

 into the fissures. In such places they have to carry their dogs 

 into the bargain. In this manner they will pursue the quarry for 

 five or six days at a time, and rarely lose an animal they have 

 once struck. 



