WITH FLASH-LIGHT AND RIFLE 



to take pictures of the animal in its haunts, in the 

 daytime and at night, demands not only courage, but 

 also infinite patience. The animal is nocturnal in its 

 habits, and goes about in daytime only when the sky 

 is clouded. But then it is useless to try to take a 

 picture. One must patiently wait until the sun pene- 

 trates the clouds, if but for a moment, and until the 

 light strikes the animal at a certain angle. The dis- 

 tance, also, must not be too great. All these condi- 

 tions must be fulfilled to assure success. The photog- 

 rapher must have a steady hand, or the picture will 

 be spoiled. In addition to steady nerves he must have 

 "nerve" to brave danger and to meet sudden death, 

 if such be his fate. Personally, I do not know of any 

 greater risk than to photograph and to hunt the wild 

 beasts at the same time. Just as difficult and hazard- 

 ous is the taking of pictures at night-time. But when 

 all difficulties and obstacles have been conquered, and 

 when the development of the plate reveals the success 

 of this magic art, then one feels repaid for all the hard- 

 ships and previous disappointments. Every time I 

 showed my natives any of the pictures, they shook 

 their heads in wonder and looked up to me as to a 

 magician who had succeeded in fixing on a tiny glass 

 plate the scene they themselves had watched. With 

 the word " dana " (magic), the blacks explain to them- 

 selves everything that passes their understanding. 

 English scientists— Mr. F. C. Selous, Mr. F. J. Jack- 



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