CH. XIl] 
THE ’NOZI 
335 
of the smaller kinds they usually speak of as rams and 
ewes. 
While on safari to the ’Nzoi I was even more in¬ 
terested in honey-birds which led us to honey than I 
was in the game. John Burroughs had especially 
charged me before starting for Africa to look personally 
into this extraordinary habit of the honey-bird—a habit 
so extraordinary that he was inclined to disbelieve the 
reality of its existence. But it unquestionably does 
exist. Every experienced hunter and every native who 
lives in the wilderness has again and again been an eye¬ 
witness of it. Kermit, in addition to his experience in 
the Sotik, had been led by a honey-bird to honey in a 
rock near Lake Hannington. Once while I was track¬ 
ing game a honey-bird made his appearance, chattering 
loudly and flying beside us. I let two of the porters 
follow it, and it led them to honey. On the morning 
of the day we reached the ’Nzoi a honey-bird appeared 
beside the safari, behaving in the same manner. Some 
of the men begged to be allowed to follow it. While 
they were talking to me, the honey-bird flew to a big 
tree fifty yards off, and called loudly as it flitted to and 
fro in the branches ; and sure enough there was honey 
in the tree. I let some of the men stay to get the 
honey; but they found little except comb filled with 
grubs. Some of this was put aside for the bird, which 
ate the grubs. The natives believe that misfortune will 
follow any failure on their part to leave the honey-bird 
its share of the booty. They also insist that sometimes 
the honey-bird will lead a man to a serpent or wild 
beast; and sure enough Dr. Mearns was once thus led 
up to a rhinoceros. While camped on the ’Nzoi, the 
honey-birds were almost a nuisance. They were very 
common, and were continually accompanying us as we 
