CHAPTER IV 



KOM-KOM 



SOME years ago, I was hunting in that wild 

 tract of country .that lies between the Lehom- 

 bero and Luwegu Rivers in German East Africa, 

 and had pitched my camp quite close to Jumbe 

 Iperie's village, a mere cluster of huts buried 

 in the heart of the pori. One day, when I 

 was taking a rest after a particularly arduous 

 period of work, some natives of the village 

 appeared before my tent and piteously begged 

 me to come and kill an elephant that had for 

 years been raiding their shambas or gardens. 

 Nor was theft the only crime they imputed 

 to him ; he had, they said, killed several of the 

 villagers, including three native hunters, and all 

 attempts to destroy him or drive him away 

 from the district had proved utterly fruitless. 

 Indeed, so well known was he to them that 

 they had given him the name of Kom-Kom, 

 or, the Mighty One. With that love of mystery 



