288 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER ch. 
concoction that he drinks, or with which he inoculates 
himself, or by the efficacy of some charm or amulet 
that he wears. Like many modern civilized people, 
he is not satisfied with the factors which his senses 
convey to him as forming definite knowledge ; he 
must have some occult power manipulating the wires 
and, therefore, every act of his life is tinged with 
superstition in one form or other. The native 
elephant hunter, very much after the manner of the 
old alchemist, brews some concoction and, cutting 
the flesh of his arm, rubs in the charmed mixture 
ere he sets out on his adventures. This, in addition 
to an amulet or talisman which he wears, ensures 
his success in the chase, and not only do his fellows 
believe in the efficacy of this humbug, but he himself 
reposes complete confidence in it, and if he becomes 
a renowned hunter, others of his profession will 
come from hundreds of miles around to buy his 
medicine. Superstition, however, does not prevent 
his making a ‘good thing’ out of his secret; on 
the contrary, he rises to the occasion with all the 
astuteness and alacrity of a patent medicine vendor. 
It will now be clear to the reader why Sultan 
Mperembe asked me for medicine for killing 
elephants. 
Leaving my tent, and desperately striving to 
bring my confused wits to bear on the situation, I 
went over to where Mperembe’s men stood with my 
