The New York herald., 1920-01-11
ne 81 nc 6 Is 5 T5 s SRsIz 5a a 4a g III os m

1000 feet. From our camp we had fine
view of the surrounding country. Before
us. toward the South was stretch OF
hills and forest as far as the eye could
see and behind and as it appeared almost
straight above us was the snow capped
lpeak of Kissimbi and a little further
away that of Mileno. We had reached
the lower edge of the bamboo forest.
which grows on both mountains to an
altitude of 10000 feet and we decided that
next day we would follow this lower edge
on to Mount Mikeno and then start climb
ling uphill again, as the pigmieS had told us
that the gorillas We're to be found in the
upper part of the bamboo forest.
AS the day had several hours TO go be-
fore sundown we took a rifle and shotgun
with the intention of shooting something
for the pot We came across the spoor
of several kinds of buck and got on to
the tracks of some elephants, and al
though it would have been fairly easy
country in which to follow them up we
did not bother with them. as we knew the
ivory would be small. as is generally the
case with elephants found in very mount
ainous country. Not only that. If we had
shot anything large we should probably
have lost our pigmies, as they would have
stopped to gorge themselves and then
would have wanted to carry all they could
| of the meat back to the village
| So coming to pool of water where
there were some ducks. we contented our
selves with these. of which, by the way,
believe we could have got all we wanted
by throwing stones at them, as they took
not the slightest notice of us and when we
stoned them only moved on yard or TIVE
and even when we shot and killed some the
remainder cid not go far away.
Finding tho GoriIIns.
We started at daylight the next morning
and reached our next camping ground
without incident The country We had
come through was similar to that of the
day before but we had to make our
way through several large patches Of
giant nettles These had caused us great
discomfort as we got stunS all over with
their bristles, which grew TO about half
an inch in length and were strong enough
o penetrate our clothing.
We now found ourselves on Mount Mix
ero. at an altitude of about 5000 feet We
had followed the lower edge of the bam-
boos and had then struck uphill for a
little while and arrived at a spot where
no bamboos grow. but we had them above
and below us. After n talk with1he pig
mics we decided that this would beoa good
spot from which to hunt for the gorilas as
they told us they could take us TO spot
a few hours away where they knew the
gorillas had been in the habit Of sleeping
every night some months ago. but they
thought that they did not stop on one part
Of the mountain for very long at time
and as there were only a few of them we
might be several days finding them.
Our camp was on the south side OF the
mountain and early next morning we
started off with the pigmies lead
ing in an, easterly ana slightly uphill
direction. IT was hard going and the
nettles were almost unbearable. After
going steadily for over five hours our two
guides, without word OF explanation,
suddenly disappeared. We had heard or
seen nothing and we expected them to re-
appear, as they usually did, in one or at
most two minutes. However. as they did
not turn up and being in need of rest
We sat down and waited. After about fif-
teen minutes when we had begun TO think
that perhaps they had suddenly got tired
! OF their Job and had deserted us for good,
they reappeared and beckoned us to follow,
which We did and in about ten minutes
| they stopped again and pointed to the
ground close ahead of them, then SAID
something TO our interpreter. who told us
that this was where the gorillas bad been
\ ground but all spoor had been washed
out and tho only pecuiiarities we could
! fitd were several circular shaped patches
\ about four feet in diameter ana scattered
/ over with dried bamboo twigs. on induir-
ing the pigmies told us through our inter
lgorillas' beds. which they made OF bamboo
/ twigs piled up into a heap.
\ AS we could learn nothing from what we
saw here as to their present whereabouts
we asked the pgmes ~ they had any idea
whore we should he likely to find the go
rillas now. but they said that as IL wa'
1 well known that they did not stop In one
Il part Of tho mountain for very long at q
iite 1t was impossible for them to SAY
\ where they were. but they knew this ram
4 ily had been on Tie mountain for n Ions
time and they thought II was very unlikely
| ttcy had left it and "if the white men still
i wanted 10 shoot this uneatable meat th'
lonly chance they had of doing so was Il
lind some fresh spoor. when the gorllla'
could easily be teachod.'
on being reassured that II we were sue
cesslul in finding the gorllas we would
shoot them large quantitAs of mea
tho pigmys agreed TO remain with us
aud help us TO get on TO their tracks
SO we decided that We would not move
our camp from its present position and
that we would search all this side of the
mountain systematically, starting from tho
camp each morning ina new direction. We
were satisfied that il We were not actually
ON The track Of gorillas ut nyyI,ate they