104 
In the Heart of Africa 
with my best thanks, for distribution among my people. More 
friendly relations now set in between us and the islanders. They 
daily brought us a few bunches of bananas and some fowls, and 
received stuffs and beads in exchange. They also served us as 
guides upon our excursions into the forest. 
This was more difficult to reach from our camp than had 
appeared, for it began some hundred metres or so above the 
banks of the lake. An extremely steep and slippery path led up 
to it over clayey soil made soft by the rain. Out of breath 
and dripping with perspiration, we got to the edge of the forest, 
convinced that it would not be possible, as we had hoped, to 
set up our camp there. The Kwidschwi forest is very beautiful. 
High-standing trees, chiefly fannarium and safotacecBy many 
liane, and most luxuriant brushwood make it almost impossible 
to swerve from the narrow path which penetrates deep into the 
forest. When, chasing the long-tailed monkeys, which the natives 
say are the sole larger mammals of the island, I learned to know 
that forest. Monkey hunting is without doubt one of the most 
difficult tasks that confronts the zoological collector in Africa. 
The animals are very timid, and conceal themselves in troops 
amongst the loftiest tree-tops, but often betray themselves by 
their restlessness and their characteristic harsh cries. Then the 
question is how to get within shooting distance. Through the 
densest underwood you go, up the steep slopes, and down them, 
with arms and legs caught by thorns and liane, or with them 
clinging round your rifle and your neck. Creeping slowly on all 
fours through the tangle, perspiring and covered with dirt, you 
stand at last, with a racing pulse, at the foot of the tree you 
want; but the noise made by your stalking has scared the 
monkeys away some time ago. The direction in which the troop 
has fled is only indicated by a rustling in the branches of 
some neighbouring trees. This happened to me repeatedly dur¬ 
ing the first few days of our stay at Kwidschwi, so that I 
quite lost heart. I could only set all my hopes on the Batwa, 
the famous pygmy hunters, whom Tamate had promised to bring 
along. 
