94 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



nothing but excitement. He was killed in the French 

 Congo, and, owing to his daring and reckless nature, he 

 doubtless took risks that may not have been necessary. 

 Still, he was a very experienced big-game hunter, and in 

 such cases it is very difficult to get the full details. In 

 thick country it is often impossible to move at all, and the 

 surrounding reeds or thick jungle may prevent a man using 

 his rifle quickly in an emergency. Again, a misfire may 

 occur or a cartridge may jam in the chamber at a critical 

 moment, and leave a man practically unarmed and unable 

 to defend himself. 



In a fairly recent copy of the Field was the news of the 

 death of Mr R. P. Fuller-Maitland, who was killed by a bull 

 elephant in British East Africa, not far from Lake Baringo. 

 He was a very young man, and it is most unfortunate 

 for the sufferer and his relatives that such a life should be 

 cut off in such an untimely fashion ; but this is the price we 

 pay for our love of wild sport, and those may be termed 

 the lucky ones who live through many dangerous adven- 

 tures with wild beasts. 



A German officer, Lieutenant O. Graetz, who travelled 

 by a motor-boat through some of the rivers and lakes of 

 Central Africa, was tossed by a wounded buffalo while 

 passing through the Chambesi River. He sustained a 

 severe and painful wound in his cheek, which was torn 

 open by the buffalo's horn. Worse luck, however, befell 

 his companion, a young Frenchman named Mr. Octave 

 Fiere, for the buffalo killed him at the same time, after 

 mutilating his body in a dreadful manner. 



Naturally, Lieutenant Graetz now considers the buffalo 

 the most dangerous animal in Africa, although authorities 

 such as Selous put it third ; giving first place to the lion, 

 and second to the elephant. 



To decide such a matter a man would need to have shot 

 equal numbers of all these animals, and also keep detailed 

 notes of their behaviour under varied conditions. I cannot 

 say I have had a sufficient experience to decide, although I 

 agree with Selous that the lion should come first, as he is 



