CHAPTER IV 
ICOM-KOM 
Some years ago, I was hunting in that wild 
tract of country that lies between the Lehom- 
bero and Luwegu Rivers in German East Africa, 
and had pitched my camp quite close to Jumbe 
Iperie’s village, a mere cluster of huts buried 
in the heart of the pori. One day, when I 
was taking a rest after a particularly arduous 
period of work, some natives of the village 
appeared before my tent and piteously begged 
me to come and kill an elephant that had for 
years been raiding their shambas or gardens. 
Nor was theft the only crime they imputed 
to him ; he had, they said, killed several of the 
villagers, including three native hunters, and all 
attempts to destroy him or drive him away 
from the district had proved utterly fruitless. 
Indeed, so well known was he to them that 
they had given him the name of Kom-Kom, 
pr, the Mighty One. With that love of mystery 
4 1 
