4 IN AFRICA 



the five months that elapsed before I actually set 

 forth, I went about my daily work with a mind half 

 dazed with the delicious consciousness that I was 

 soon to become a lion hunter. I feared that modern 

 methods might have taken away much of the old- 

 time romance of the sport, but I felt certain that 

 there was still to be something left in the way of 

 excitement and adventure. 



The succeeding pages of this book contain the 

 chronicle of the nine delightful months that fol- 

 lowed my departure from America. 



In the middle of August Mr. Stephenson and I 

 arrived in London. Mr. Akeley had ordered most 

 of our equipment by letter, but there still remained 

 many things to be done, and for a week or more we 

 were busy from morning till night. 



It is amazing how much stuff is required to out- 

 fit a party of four people for an African shooting 

 expedition of several months' duration. First in 

 importance come the rifles, then the tents and camp 

 equipment, then the clothes and boots, then the 

 medical supplies, and finally the food. Perhaps the 

 food might be put first in importance, but just now, 

 after a hearty dinner, it seems to be the least im- 

 portant detail. 



Many men outfitting for an African campaign 

 among wild animals secure their outfits in London. 

 It is there, in modest little shops, that one gets the 

 weapons that are known to sportsmen from one end 

 of the world to the other weapons designed ex- 

 pressly for the requirements of African shooting, 



