58 After Big Game in Central Africa 



been cut up that one can recognise it only by the 

 trampled grass. There is not a shadow of a lion, 

 probably owing to the fact that this district is less 

 frequented by game than that whence we have come. 

 As to hyenas, their scent is so keen that they know 

 of the presence of any animal debris several miles 

 away, and arrive straight on the place, uttering at 

 intervals their disagreeable cry. 



As there is a village three hours' distance away, I 

 send to the chief to inform him that I desire a few 

 bearers. Fifty men soon answer to the call. They are 

 accompanied by a few women, who come to sell us, in 

 return for meat, produce of the country for which I 

 have asked : sweet potatoes, a kind of spinach, green 

 maize, fowls, eggs, bananas, etc. 1 send some venison 

 to De Borely at headquarters under the guidance of 

 one of my men ; and, as the sun only appears every now 

 and then, I smoke the elephant meat during the day 

 and night, so that we shall be able the next day to 

 get back to our starting-point with the remainder of 

 the additional bearers. 



On the average, forty men are required to carry a 

 female elephant thus cut up, flesh and bones included ; 

 fifty-two for a male. When the bones have been 

 taken out and the flesh is dried, the numbers are re- 

 duced to about one-half that is, twenty-five men for 

 a male, twenty for a female. One can estimate the 

 approximate minimum weight of the living animal at 

 two tons for a male, and rather over one ton and a 

 half for a female. Of all animals the elephant is the 

 one whose flesh is the lightest after being dried, 



