128 
THE CHEMOSIT 
thing was something that would have been easy to identify 
if it had been seen by a naturalist who would have noted the 
more valuable points by which one could have easily got an 
idea of what it was ; as it is we have no description, that is of 
any value, either from white man or native. 
An example of a weird animal was the beast described to 
me in the Sotik country ; the name I forget, but the description 
was very similar to that of the chimiset. 
Fair size — my pointer dog being given as about its size ; 
stood on hind legs ; was very savage. 
Careful inquiries and a picture of the ratel settled the 
matter, then out came the information that it was light on 
the back and dark below, points that would have settled it 
at once. My own view of the chimiset is that it consists of 
a number of animals. 
The chimpanzee as a base, ratel, leopard, lion, baboon, 
bush pig, and hunting dog ; amongst the natives the stories 
are, I think, half legendary and are kept alive by any cases of 
persons or cattle being killed in any out-of-the-way manner. 
Amongst white men on the Plateau or in the Nandi district 
any animal that cannot be recognised is apt to be put down 
at once to the ‘ undescribed ’ animal. 
The strongest point in favour of there being such an animal 
is that it has a native name, and appears to be well known 
amongst the Nandi. 
Should anyone see it, please note the tracks, as they would 
be of the greatest value and would more or less settle the whole 
question. 
I look upon the reports from the Nandi and from Magadi 
as referring to totally different animals, and they should not 
be considered together. 
