258 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



day they remain in the tops of thick trees where they build 

 rough platforms of sticks for nests. At night they come 

 down to feed on the native plantations. 



On January 26 Gosling set out in a south-easterly 

 direction, and I followed with Jose a few days later, taking 

 a more southerly course. Each was determined to be the 

 one to capture the mysterious okapi. 



This part of the forest is peopled with the Mobatti tribe 

 and there are a good man}^ Bakango villages in the neighbour- 

 hood of the river. We did not find it necessary to take our 

 tents with us, for the little hamlets were very clean. They 

 consist of two rows of mud huts, six to fourteen in number, 

 and in the middle of the passage between there are sun- 

 shelters with mud seats which are always kept scrupulously 

 clean ; these made us good sleeping-places at night. The 

 roofs of the huts are thatched with leaves, for there is no 

 grass in the forest ; their russet colour strikes a pleasing 

 note against the green background of the trees. 



Round the villages the ground is cleared for about 200 

 yards, and the soil is so rich that no tilling is necessary to 

 make it raise the crops. The larger trees are felled by burning 

 and allowed to lie among the crops till in the process of time 

 they are broken up for firewood. The food of the Mobatti 

 consists of maniocs, sweet potatoes, maize, plantains, and 

 fowls and eggs. They are also fond of a big black-headed 

 ant, about half an inch long, which is collected by the 

 women, and eaten after being boiled. The Mobatti and 

 the Bakango speak the same language. 



A day's journey from the river brought me into deep 

 forest. It is difficult to describe the sensations that are 



