xviii ADVENTURE WITH A CROCODILE 235 



the game. The top of this tree had probably 

 been broken off in a storm, leaving about ten feet 

 of the bole intact. The Andorobo set to work 

 on this with his little axe of primitive shape and 

 make, hewed out a narrow doorway, and then 

 hollowed out the rotten stem, thus giving himself 

 room to stand upright inside and freely use his 

 spear on a passing animal. The back part of 

 the tree was cut away to within some four feet 

 of the ground, leaving a flat platform by means 

 of which the hunter could if necessary retreat from 

 his position inside the hollow. The opening thus 

 made also allowed his spear full play when poised 

 horizontally for a thrust. If the wind was in the 

 wrong direction the Andorobo remained concealed 

 on the other side of the path until the beast had 

 gone down the steep gully to drink, and then 

 stepped cautiously forward to thrust his spear 

 deep into a vital part. If it were a dangerous 

 animal he merely skipped into his shelter, and if 

 attacked there he scrambled on to the ledge at 

 the back, where he would be safe from anything 

 except an elephant or beast of prey; but the 

 Wandorobo only hunt for meat, and would not 

 molest a lion if he came to drink. Altogether it 

 was a very ingenious contrivance, as will be seen from 

 the photographs. 



We did not come across many natives on our 



