106 After Big Game in Central Africa 



inexplicable, because the region is deserted and quiet. 

 True, the season for fulas and matondos is over ; 

 but there remains the migbalamgbiv, or fan-palm 

 (hyphoenoe), loaded with fruit, of which the elephant 

 is very fond. We snare a few guinea-fowls, which 

 keep the pot boiling ; and we fish a little in the 

 Luiya, hardly 400 yards from our encampment. 



One morning about half-past three o'clock, and 

 the moon shining brightly, repeated elephant trum- 

 petings ring out in the direction of the river. When 

 they play at the edge of the water and think they are 

 in security, these animals express their joy by cries 

 which may be likened unto cavalry trumpet-blasts. 



Awakened with a start, we hastily fit ourselves out 

 and proceed through the, tall grass in the direction in 

 which the cries seem to come. Unfortunately, upon 

 arriving at the edge of the Luiya we perceive that 

 the elephants are on the opposite side; we cannot 

 see them, because of the vegetation and the steepness 

 of the bank; but we hear them distinctly. The river 

 being very deep at this point and its breadth exceed- 

 ing 100 yards, what is to be done ? Swim across, 

 you are going to tell me. Impossible. First of all, 



ing of the checks and inconveniences which I must have necessarily 

 experienced. I must admit that I did this designedly, because to 

 enumerate all the animals I have missed would have made the book 

 too long. The following rule may be made in this matter : A good 

 hunter, however careful, adroit, or well seconded he may be, must 

 count one out of every two animals which he pursues as lost, owing 

 to the many difficulties of his profession. This is the minimum, for 

 how many wound or miss three or four animals before killing one ! 

 It would, therefore, be absurd to describe all the hunts, marches, 

 and counter-marches which have ended in nothing. 



