The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-11-11
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SNlSN1I an q 49, A5sfies q Hunting Stories.

noon by short fierce tornado, and it would
have been well-nigh impossible TO hunt.
But next morning our Bosos-Nigerian
| hoatmen who said they were descendants of
| fugitives from the mountains of Ethiopia
! received their pay and departed. We struck
off eastward into the wilderness.
| A French officer going down sire on one
of those long comfortable Somnos boats in
use here. told us of hunters paradise and
| this was sought according TO his directions
| II lay at the base of a mountain spur whose
| blue peaks could be seen at intervals when
our view cleared. and after four days march
! ing we entered n beautiful park country alive
with game
Our first need was 10 construct an encamp-
ment that would be both comic table and
secure Africa, however, is rarely destitute
of materials for this purpose, and before long
rain proof grass huts were built, and the
zareba surrounded by thorn fence such as
no lion or leopard could surmount. As for
the elephant he has not sense enough TO
break barrier, however frail, and will i'm
potently rage about in an Enclosure no more
capable of resisting his strength than if it
were made of c0bwebs.
The camp stood close by broad ravine
running back and finally losing itself among
a labyrinth of gorges fortunately also there
was no water except near its mouth, where
several pools had been formed.
Nothing could have suited us better, sup
posing that tIees grew near enough; but that
WAS only the case in one instance, so accord
ing TO custom we cast lots for choice of posi-
ton, and Wells and myself were forced to
construct slann This Is always ole of
the most difficult and delicate operations
When finished no sign of its presence must
remain. while fresh earth has TO he thrown
on every footstep. for an elephant will scent
trail "A hours old with uniailing certainty.
For this reason our numerous and needless
attendants needed to lie kept away from its
vicinity and sent by roundabout routes TO
fetch water FRI IN smaller reservoirs.
1t would sound like an oxaggeration if
attempted any description of the number and
variety of animals seen. This place reminded
one Of Sir Samuel Bakers famous camp in
Masai-and, and like it was constantly sere-
naded by lions. They often came very close,
and on the night we arrived one restless saw
age paced around our zareba hedge for hours
probably the same black lion that tracked
Wells and myself soon afterwards, and but
for good fortune would have made an end of
Us botn
Wild animals drink at different hours;
thus we started early on the second evening,
in order not to interfere with those who came
first, and soon ensconsed ourselves in a ditch
about IA feet long and four and a half deep
which was rooted with heavy logs except at
its ends where Wells and myself sat. After
nightfall the loom of the thick jungle in
rear would deepen that obscurity in which
our skarm lay, while before it everything
was open for some distance beyond the la
gUne.
Birds came first, then small antelope,
picking their way with delicate and hest
tating steps They were succeeded by oryx,
the gnu, and Gland, each coming with equal
precaution, for drinking places are dangerous
localities on account of ambuscades.
Dog faced balloons and monkeys also ar