288 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. 



concoction that he drinks, or with which he inoculates 

 himself, or by the efficacy of some charm or amulet 

 that he wears. Like many modern civilized people, 

 he is not satisfied with the factors which his senses 

 convey to him as forming definite knowledge ; he 

 must have some occult power manipulating the wires 

 and, therefore, every act of his life is tinged with 

 superstition in one form or other. The native 

 elephant hunter, very much after the manner of the 

 old alchemist, brews some concoction and, cutting 

 the flesh of his arm, rubs in the charmed mixture 

 ere he sets out on his adventures. This, in addition 

 to an amulet or talisman which he wears, ensures 

 his success in the chase, and not only do his fellows 

 believe in the efficacy of this humbug, but he himself 

 reposes complete confidence in it, and if he becomes 

 a renowned hunter, others of his profession will 

 come from hundreds of miles around to buy his 

 medicine. Superstition, however, does not prevent 

 his making a 'good thing' out of his secret; on 

 the contrary, he rises to the occasion with all the 

 astuteness and alacrity of a patent medicine vendor. 

 It will now be clear to the reader why Sultan 

 Mperembe asked me for medicine for killing 

 elephants. 



Leaving my tent, and desperately striving to 

 bring my confused wits to bear on the situation, I 

 went over to where Mperembe's men stood with my 



