Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-20

outlying, forest-dwelling members of the
lowland tribes. To. the Ndorobo, and to
them alone, the vast, thick forest was an
open book; without their aid as guides both
Cuninghame and our gun-bearers were al
fault and found their way around with great
difficulty and slowness.
The Start of the First Elephant Hunt
For two days after reaching Our camp in
the open glade on the mountain side it
rained We were glad Of this, because it
meant that the elephants would not be in
the bamboos, and Cunnghame and the
'Ndorobo went off to hunt for fresh signs.
Cuninghame is as skllfu an elephant hunt
er as can be found in Africa, and is one OF
the very few white men able to help even the
wild bushmen at their work BY the after
noon of the second day they were fairly
well satisfied as to the whereabouts of the
quarry.
The following morning fine rain was
still falling when Cuninghame, Heller and
started on our hunt; but by noon it had
stopped. OF course, we went in single fi.e
and on foot; not even bear hunte from
the cane brakes of the lower Mississippi
could ride through that forest. We left our
home camp standing, taking blankets and
coat and change OF underclothing for each Of
us, and two small Whymper tents. wit
enough food for three days; also took my
brary.
First marched the 'Ndorobo guides, each
with his spear, his blanket around his shout
ders and little bundle of corn and sweet
potatoes. Then came Cuninghame, fol-
lowed by his gun-bearer. Then l came,
clad in khaki-colored flannel shirt and kfa-
ki trousers buttoning down the legs with
hobnailed shoes and thick SLOUGH hat: |
had intended to wear rubber-soled shoes,
but the soaked ground was too slippery
My two gun-bearers followed, carrying
the Holland and the Springfield Then
came Heller at the head of dozen p,rters
and SINNERS; he and they we're to. fall be-
hind when we actually struck fresh elephant
spoor but to follow our trail by the help Of
a 'Ndorobo who was left with them
For three hours our route lay along the
edge of the woods. We climbed into and
out of deep ravines in which groves of tree
ferns clustered We walled through streams
of swift water, whose course was broken bv
cataract and rapid. We passed through
shambas, and by the doors of little hamiets
OF matched beehive huts We met flocks OF
goats and hairy, fat-tailed sheep guarded by
boys; strings of burden-bearirs women
stood meekly to one side to let US pass:
parties of young men sauntered by, spear
in hand
Into the Great Forest.
Then we struck into the great forest. and
IN an instant the sun was shut from sight by
the thick screen OF wet foliage. 1t was
riot of twisted vines, interlacing the trees
and bushes. Only the elephant paths,
which, of every age, crossed and recrossed
it hither and thither, made it passable. One
of the chief difficulties in hunting elephants
in the forest is that it is impossible to travel
except very slowly, and with much noise,
off these trails, SO that it is sometimes very
difficult to take advantage Of the wind; and
although the sight of the elephant is dull,
both its sense OF hearing and its sense of
smell are exceedingly acute.
Hour after hour we worked our way on.
ward through tangled forest and matted
Jungle. There was little sign of bird or ami
NAL life. A troop Of long-haired black and
white monkeys bounded away among the
tree tops. Here and there brilliant flowers
ightened the gloom We ducked under
vines and climbed over fallen timber. Poi
sonous ncttles stung our hands. We were