Through the Semliki Valley 203 
sight of an animal slain by pygmies would have to satisfy our 
ambitions, and therefore left no stone unturned at least to attain 
this object. Dazzling promises of baksheesh spurred on the 
Wambutti to great zeal. All day long they roamed alone 
through the forest. Tracks were found, but nothing else. 
The Wambutti hunt the okapi chiefly in the rainy season. In 
the morning they search for a fresh trail left in the night. This 
they follow up through thick and thin, through all kinds of 
foliage and liane creepers. As the okapi ramble far and wide, 
the chase spins out for days. The incredibly keen scent and 
sagacity of these pygmies alone make it possible to keep on 
the trail of this strange species of game; they can follow almost 
imperceptible indications which entirely escape the eyes of 
Europeans. As the okapi nervously avoids the sun’s rays, the 
hunters have to seek it in the densest brushwood. They are 
nearly always successful in creeping noiselessly up to it within 
a few paces, when they slay the animal by hurling poisoned 
spears. 
The name by which this large antelope is known varies 
according to the district. “ Okapi ” and “ kwapi ” are mostly 
used, and we also heard “ alabi ” once. It was, too, very often 
called “kenge.” At Mawambi, on the Aruwimi, I showed a 
coloured representation of the okapi Johnstonii to the Wambutti. 
They knew it at once, and unanimously said “kenge.” The 
expressions “okapi” and “kwapi,” as well as “alabi,” were 
entirely unknown there. The pygmies at Beni, on the contrary, 
only used the designation “ okapi ” and “ kwapi,” and generally 
knew no other. 
At Sindano we were successful in acquiring a skin, in good 
preservation, with the skeleton complete; also another at Songola, 
and three more at Irumu. These were the first brought home 
by any German expedition. I am not aware either of there being 
any other skull existent in Germany. 
Even to-day we know but little of the habits of the okapi. 
All that has been made known so far is limited to tracking 
methods. From this we know that the creature finds its way 
