FAREWELL TO AFRICA 431 



This regiment conquered the German Cameroons 

 during the late war, and then were sent to East Africa 

 for further service. It is remarkable how well these 

 black men are trained. They love the army because 

 of its bright uniforms and glamour, and the fact that 

 it sets them apart from other members of the com- 

 munity. They present a striking and colorful picture 

 in their red tunics, and although bare-footed, this fact 

 seems in no way to detract from their appearance. 

 Most of the men in the ranks are from the Hausa 

 tribes, and the official language of the regiment is 

 Hausa. All natives love music, and this battalion had 

 a band of which they could well be proud. Not a 

 member of the organization could read a note or play 

 an instrument tlu-ee years previously, but now rendered 

 many difficult military airs with a masterful fmish. 

 The Colonel arranged for a parade of the battalion, 

 during which they "trooped the colors," a very im- 

 pressive ceremony. 



After this, we were entertained at mess by the 

 Colonel and his officers, and he told me about an 

 elephant hunt which nearly cost him his life. He had 

 gone out with a friend and, after following the elephant 

 all morning, came upon it at noontime. They tossed 

 a coin to determine which should have the privilege of 

 collecting the ivory, the Colonel winning the toss. 

 After stalking close to the animal he found it was a 

 cow with poor tusks; so, deciding not to molest the 

 elephant, he turned to go, and in doing so tripped over 

 some vines and fell. The cow heard this and charged 

 him. He managed to twist his rifle toward her and, 

 firing when she was twenty feet away, put a heavy 

 bullet through her heart and spine. The huge animal 



