xvi THE LAND OF THE LION 



result of an effort to state accurately what I saw, and at 

 the time I saw it. 



As to the stories told, I have made place for none except 

 such as I heard from men who were themselves actors in 

 them, or else were present when the things they tell occurred. 

 'The Railroad Lion" stories are, of course, an exception, 

 and they have been told before. But, then, few Americans 

 have heard them. They are very well authenticated, and, 

 I think, deserve re-telling. 



Then, again, I have another reason, and one of some 

 weight. If an Englishman wants to go to any part of 

 Africa, he can probably find someone in the next parish 

 who has been there for years; an American cannot so easily 

 get reliable information. I have found it very difficult 

 to obtain the sort of information I required. The litera- 

 ture on the subject is voluminous. Africa always was 

 supremely interesting to me, and for years I have read 

 what I could lay my hands on, as I always hoped, some day, 

 to take the journeys I have made within it. But read as 

 I might, and question many sportsmen and travellers as 

 I did, I found myself, once I was in Africa, and had started 

 on sefari life very poorly informed indeed. 



One man says, "Go by all means in the wet season," 

 another, "As you value your health, don't go in the wet 

 season go in the dry." When is the wet season ? Says 

 one: "It begins in March and is over in June." Says 

 another: "It begins in June and goes on till September." 

 Africa is a hard country to find the truth about before 

 you come; and to sift out the truth from all abounding 

 exaggeration and inaccuracy, when you are there. 



Want of accurate information wrecked my first expe- 

 dition. I had a pleasant time, it is true, and saw a great 

 deal of game; but failed to go where I wanted to go, or 

 get what I most wanted to get. 



Now, after a year's constant travel, during which I have 



