GAME-NETTING IN UZIGUA 
405 
A few men remain hidden in the bush, well to the rear of 
the nets. Usually one man watches about three nets. It is 
the watcher’s business fco catch and kill the paa when entangled 
in the net, and to record in whose net the captures take place. 
The drive commences almost in silence but for the slashing 
of the beaters’ sticks. When a paa is flushed, the beaters, by 
yelling and waving their arms, try to drive it towards the 
nets and prevent it breaking through their line, as it almost 
invariably attempts to do. 
It is of great importance while beating to be the first to 
spot the paa, as this is taken into account in making the 
final division of the bag. The appearance of each animal is 
invariably followed by heated discussions between the rival 
claimants of first view, so that soon the beat goes forward amid 
a fearful din. 
A drive lasts about a quarter of an hour, and seldom results 
in the capture of more than one paa, while very frequently 
it is an absolute failure. 
The Wazigua say the paa is the most cunning of all the 
animals, and knows, on hearing the beaters, not only that he 
has to deal with a net, but also in which direction to expect it. 
Certainly, I saw paa breaking back through the beaters 
without hesitation, when put up, in preference to running 
forward and away from the noise. 
After watching two or three quite unsuccessful drives, 
I was told that the cunning of the paa was now to be 
out-matched, and in the following way. 
The nets were lined out as before, at a place where several 
paa, that had already broken through the beaters, had 
hidden. This time the beaters lined up along the nets, and, 
stepping over, proceeded to drive in silence away from them. 
The idea being that the paa, encouraged by their earlier 
success, would again break through and then run into the 
nets behind. 
Strangely enough this was successful, and in a few minutes 
two paa — an old female and young buck — were in the nets, 
and crying horribly as the watchers caught and dispatched 
them with blows on the neck. 
The Wazigua will continue driving all day in the heat. On 
