Okapi Hunting 



nathous or protruding jaw. They arc, however, or seem to 

 be, more nimble witted than many other forest natives of a 

 higher culture, and having no cannibal tendencies are gentle- 

 men compared to the bigger negroes. 



When making my visit to the Wambute with my " movie " 

 camera, I took the chief Moera with me, sending him on 

 ahead to calm any fears they might have regarding my 

 intentions. On my way thither I passed through a large 

 extent of forest that was then being cleared for bananas, 

 the staple food of the forest negroes, where I had a good 

 opportunity of observing their methods of opening up land 

 for this crop. Firstly, they cleared the thick undergrowth 

 which was burnt, leaving only the largest trees standing to 

 act as shade for the young banana roots that were planted 

 hap-hazard beneath, in small holes dug in the deep leaf-mould. 

 When these had taken root they proceeded slowly to fell 

 the gigantic trees that had been left standing; this was done 

 from a frail platform some twelve feet up the bole or, in the 

 case of a soft-wood tree, a fire would be started at its foot in 

 between the semi-aerial roots. 



Passing on in the wake of Moera the fact that we had 

 reached the vicinity of Pygmyland soon became evident for 

 our ears were assailed by a babble of echoing and unaccus- 

 tomed sounds, due to the consternation caused by my near 

 approach and Moera's expostulations. The expectation of 

 some salt, however, induced the more timid women and 

 children who had run away, to return, so when I arrived 

 most of my " performers " had assembled. There were some 

 twenty-five of them all told, some on trees — mostly the children 

 — the men and women in groups in front of their leaf shelters. 

 The grey bearded chief of the Wambute, whom I had seen 



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