Okapi Hunting 



In regard to it, it is curious to reflect that although Congo- 

 land had been occupied for many years and the Ituri forest 

 penetrated in several directions, this animal escaped dis- 

 covery for so long a time. This is the more to be wondered 

 at, as the forest negroes have been in the habit of wearing 

 belts and bandoliers made from the striped leg skins of the 

 animal for generations past. It was on the evidence of these 

 native ornaments that Sir Harry Johnston eventually based 

 his researches. May it be that there is still something startling 

 to find in the Congo — a really pygmy elephant, a dinotherium, 

 a water rhinoceros or perchance a brontosaurus ! Even as I 

 write comes the news of a five-tusked elephant shot by 

 Monsieur Pilet in the Uele District. The Belgian Congo — 

 " The Pearl of Africa " — has, I feel sure, a zoological surprise 

 packet still hidden away awaiting an opening by some lucky 

 adventurer ! 



Although not realising this when at Moera's village, 

 the range of the okapi is more extensive than is commonly 

 supposed and I should have accomplished my object more 

 successfully had I postponed my search until I reached the 

 north side of the Ituri valley, where the animal is fairly 

 numerous. In the Wamba and Nepoko districts no difficulty 

 will be experienced in securing a specimen, although the 

 actual killing of the animal will have to be left to the native 

 hunters — it being impracticable for a white man to hunt in 

 the tangled undergrowth in which it lives. 



Fortunately my time was fully occupied in collecting 

 insects — in search of which I made excursions in many 

 directions — for day after day went by and no okapi turned 

 up, until I began to lose hope. To make matters worse, 

 an obscure epidemic disease broke out amongst our porters, 



155 



