In Afric’s Forest and Jungle 
had no desire whatever to see one. Large 
python snakes have their homes in the rocks and 
make paths through the grass leading to these 
dens. The natives declare that there is a very 
large bird like an ostrich inhabiting the “bush” 
here. 1 failed to meet with a specimen, but 
from the description they gave it must be a 
species of cassowary. Buffalo abound but they 
prefer the larger plains near the Niger. They 
seem to be nothing but wild cattle. 
The African wolf, a species of hyena, going in 
large droves, are known here. The natives dread 
them very much. Ejahyay received one visit 
from them in its early history. When the howl¬ 
ing was heard in the distance, the gates of the 
houses were closed and the people did not go 
into the streets again until all the wolves had 
passed through. Some of the beasts are said to 
have climbed over the roofs of the houses and 
jumped down into the compounds, so ravenous 
were they. Among the smaller animals, I met 
with some surprises. Of these, one was a grey 
squirrel exactly like the small mountain squirrels 
found on top of the Blue Ridge mountains of 
i Virginia. 
Though birds of all sizes are so numerous, one 
hears little “music in the air.” Some scream, 
114 
