CHAPTER XXIII 
SUPERSTITION AND A SEQUEL 
Everytpiing connected with elephant hunting 
and the buying and selling of ivory is inseparably 
interwoven in the native mind with an extraordinary 
medley of superstition ; and the snake, which has, 
through all the ages, awakened in the human 
imagination a sense of mystery mingled with horror, 
plays a prominent part in these strange beliefs. For 
instance, should a hunter, while hunting, suddenly 
encounter a snake, more especially a puff-adder, he 
considers the meeting a good augury. On the 
other hand, should he meet a chameleon, it 
is an extremely inauspicious omen, and to kill the 
reptile only makes matters worse. 
While on the spoor of elephants, I frequently 
encounter snakes and my trackers, on such 
occasions, never fail to presage that the result of the 
hunt will be favourable, and, though I usually laugh 
at their predictions, I must admit that in most 
instances they turn out true. Whenever this is the 
