PROWLERS OF THE PLAINS 57 



This aged Wakamba was a real character, who had 

 been on some of the most notable safaris of the last 

 twenty-five years and was rated among the very best 

 of skinners. His age was now against him, but 

 although somewhat bhnd, he was a much better man 

 in most respects than many of the younger ones. 

 I was glad to overlook his infirmities because of his 

 practical knowledge and likable disposition. He was 

 one of those who accompanied me later on the journey 

 across Africa. 



Although we had already heard many hyenas, I 

 knew that in this section they would be plentiful. 

 Now, just as we were preparing to eat, several of these 

 gruesome beasts took up the mournful refrain which 

 was to continue throughout the night. One of them 

 approached within the circle of firehght and as he 

 stood there his large eyes burned hke two bright red 

 coals. It was the fu-st one seen so far, the scout, so 

 to speak, for the thousands of others which were to 

 parade before us in the weeks to come. 



The next day's journey carried us through what 

 to me was virgin territory. The farther we penetrated 

 into Tanganyika, the more numerous became the game 

 herds, while a greater variety of animals was seen. 

 We pulled up to KJein's Camp at Gurmeti, finding no 

 one there except a native boy in charge, and an 

 assorted lot of shenzis or bush savages. This boy 

 wanted us to stay and shoot a rhino which had been 

 making life miserable around the vicinity, but in spite of 

 his entreaties, we proceeded on our way to Kihmafeza. 

 This is the official name given to a gold-mining camp 

 here on the edge of nothing. It is more popularly 

 known as KiU-a-man-ezy, because of the great number 



