LIFE AND SCENES IN THE JUNGLE 35 



intervals. I listen with attention, for it is very 

 singular. It is a huge python in search of birds. 

 He reaches his head and neck forward, grasps the 

 bough of a slender bush, releases his coil from 

 another, and by contraction draws his slimy body 

 forward. The pliant boughs yield to his heavy 

 weight. The abrasion causes it to tremble, and the 

 leaves to quake. 



I fall asleep and rest in comfort, while the dew 

 that has fallen on the leaves gathers itself into huge 

 drops, their weight bends the leaves, and they fall 

 from their lofty perch, striking those far below with 

 a sharp, popping sound. The hours fly by, but in 

 the stillness of the early morning is heard a most 

 unearthly scream. It is a king gorilla. He simply 

 makes every leaf in the forest tremble with the 

 sound of his piercing shrieks. 



The dawn again awakes to life the teeming forest, 

 and all its denizens again go forth to join the uni- 

 versal chase for food. 



All of these incidents cited are true in every 

 detail, but they did not occur every day, nor did all 

 of them occur on the same day, as would be inferred 

 from the manner in which they are related. 



This gives a glimpse of my real daily life in the 

 jungle, but the monotony was often relieved by 

 going out for a day or two at a time, or hunting on 

 the plains, a few miles away. My menu was occa- 

 sionally varied by a chicken, piece of goat, fish or 

 porcupine ; but the general average of it was about 

 as described. 



