We were, of course, eager to hear Stanley's adventures.
"Finding the day tolerably cool, though I doubt if our friends in
England would have called it so, we pushed on further south than we have
ever gone before," said Stanley. "The country, though wooded in parts,
was generally open, and we had little difficulty in making our way
across the prairie. I have never seen such large herds of buffaloes,
zebras, gnus, rhinoceroses, and giraffes. Had we been mounted, we
should have had no difficulty in coming up with them, but on foot it was
a very different matter. Often, as we got up to them, almost within
range of our rifles, they were off again, leaving us standing alone,
without a hope of overtaking them. As the sun rose higher and grew
hotter, the buffaloes and rhinoceroses retired to their coverts, as did
many of the other animals, the zebras and giraffes alone defying the
sun's rays. I now hoped, by keeping under shelter of the woods, we
might the more easily surprise some of the animals we were in search of.
Before proceeding further, however, I proposed that we should open our
wallets and dine; and having selected a shady spot under tree at a
little distance from the forest, where there was probability of our
being surprised by any prowling leopard or hungry lion, we formed our
noonday camp. We had not sat long, when Mango came in and told us that
he had seen the head of a buffalo projecting from the forest at some
little distance, and that he was sure there must be several there. I
had been so annoyed at not killing anything, that, without finishing my
dinner, I set off with Mango to try and reach the spot unobserved by our
expected prey. We at once got under shelter of the wood, and worked our
way along through the borders of the forest, hoping to get up to the
spot without disturbing the herd. Mango at length made me understand by
signs that we had now reached the place where he had seen the buffalo.
I can tell you they are very different animals from those we met with
further to the north. These are pictures of brute strength and
ferocity, their horns, short and curling, but pointed like daggers,
meeting at the roots, where they form a thick mass, serving as a helmet
to the animal. I was afraid of coming suddenly upon them, for I knew
that if startled they would be off before I could obtain a shot. Mango
was positive that we were near them. He suggested at last that we
should climb a tree, whence we might survey the neighbourhood. Finding
one, we mounted it, and when I had got a steady footing, I looked round
me, hoping to discover the animals. Not a living creature, however,
stirred. At last my companion pointed out some dark objects just seen
indistinctly through the thick foliage. They were the backs of the
buffaloes, I had little doubt. I fired, but nothing moved, and I could
not help supposing that I had mistaken some large stone for a living
creature. To settle the matter, I again loaded and fired. At the
report of the gun, half-a-dozen superb male buffaloes sprang to their
feet, and, tossing their heads, sniffed the air for a few seconds, and
darted off through the wood. My companion and I immediately descended
the tree and I made chase in the hopes of coming up with them by
following their tracks. We proceeded for some little way along the
borders of the forest, when Mango stopping, pointed ahead, and I saw a
vast herd of buffaloes--there might have been nearly three hundred of
them--suddenly rushing out of the wood, overthrowing and stamping down
every object they met with in their headlong course. We rushed back
towards the wood, where alone we could hope for safety. A portion of it
projected some way at an angle from that part whence the buffaloes had
issued. They espied us, however, and came tearing on across the open.
We dashed in among the underwood, but before we had got far they were at
our heels. Two savage brutes led the way. The horns of the first were
almost into poor Mango. A tree with low branches was near me. It would
afford us the only prospect of safety. Had I stopped for a moment to
fire, it would have been too late, and it might not have served to turn
them in their course. I sprang to the tree, helping up the boy, who had
barely time to get out of the way of the leader's horns, when the herd
rushed by us. I turned round and fired, but having to cling to the
tree, I had great difficulty in taking aim. The effect of the report
was to bring the whole herd to a halt, and, facing round, they
confronted us in one dark and formidable phalanx, as if they had
resolved to besiege us in our tree. I remembered the way you, Andrew,
had been caught by the elephant, and I fancied that the buffaloes were
about to treat us in the same manner. One or two buffaloes might have
been disposed of, but we had not ammunition sufficient to kill one half
of our assailants, even should each bullet lay one low. They kept
looking at us with savage glances, as if determined to punish us for our
audacity. They looked, indeed, as if they could very easily have
brought the tree in which we were perched down to the ground; and so
they might, if they had known how to do it. I, however, resolved to try
the effect of a few shots. I fired one, and felt sure I had hit the
animal--a large bull--but he did not move. Again and again I fired,
but, strange as it may seem, neither he nor any of the herd moved a
foot, though they eyed me and my companion all the time with an ominous
look, as if resolving how they should treat us. Every moment I expected
them to charge. Suddenly, as I was about to fire for the fourth or
fifth time, the whole herd, wheeling about with a curious shriek rather
than a bellow, their heads lowered to the ground, and their tails
swishing to and fro vehemently over their backs, off they set at a
furious pace, which made the very ground tremble under their feet.
Mango and I were left to follow them if we chose, or return to camp. We
did the latter. I must confess I felt somewhat ashamed of my want of
success when I resumed my seat by the fire. I consoled myself, however,
with a couple of pigeons which Igubo had in the meantime roasted.
Though we saw vast quantities of game of all sorts, we were equally
unsuccessful, and at length I proposed to return, when Igubo pointed out
some smoke rising over a belt of forest which appeared before us. He
said that he was sure it arose from a native village, and as I was
anxious to make the acquaintance of our neighbours, I resolved to push
forward and visit them. I sent Igubo on ahead to win the confidence of
the people by showing them that he was unarmed. He soon made a signal
to us to come on, and I found him and the chief man apparently on the
most friendly terms. The chief, a remarkably stout black, wore a scanty
petticoat, with a fillet of crocodile's teeth round his head, a similar
ornament on his neck, and bracelets on his arms. He was attended by a
drummer, who, as I approached, beat with might and main to do me honour.
His followers were armed with shields made of reeds, very cleverly
woven, sufficiently long to protect the whole body and legs, and about
three feet broad. At their backs hung quivers of iron-headed arrows,
and two short broadswords were slung to their sides. The chief invited
us into his hut. It was of good size, with a verandah in front. In a
short time his wife and her attendants brought a large mess of manioc
flour and some pieces of cooked meat, but what it was I did not at first
inquire. After eating some, Igubo told me that it was zebra's flesh.
In a hut opposite the chief's house, I observed the figure of an animal.
On examining it I found that it was formed of grass, plastered over
with soft clay. The eyes consisted of two cowrie shells; and a number
of bristles, which appeared to be taken from elephants' tails, formed a
sort of frill round the neck. It was more like a crocodile than any
other animal; but Igubo inquiring, was told that it was a lion, though
certainly it was very little like the king of beasts. On further
inquiries, I found that it was the principal idol, or fetish, of the
inhabitants, and that when the chief or any of the people are ill, their
fetish men, or priests, assemble before it, and pray and beat drums,
either to propitiate it or to arouse its attention, that it may drive
away the evil spirits which they believe are the cause of the malady."
"Poor people, dey know no better," observed Timbo; for, with the
privilege of an old servant, he did not scruple to join in our
conversation at all times. "I go and talk to dem and tell dem better
t'ings. I tell dem dat dere is one God who lubs dem, and when dey are
ill dat dey pray to him. Dat he hear dem, when de fetish hab no ears to
hear, and no way to do dem good."
"Oh yes, Timbo," said Natty, "I should like to go with you to those poor
savages. It is sad to think that they should be so ignorant. I am sure
it is our duty to try to tell them the truth."
"Yes, Massa Natty, we will go, please God," cried Timbo, looking at
Natty with a glance of approbation.
"Timbo and I must beg your pardon for interrupting you, Captain Hyslop,"
said Natty. "Pray go on."
"Unfortunately, I could not understand their language sufficiently well
to enter into such matters," observed Stanley. "I was going to say that
their village was surrounded by palisades, very similar to those we have
seen. The people were clothed in even more scanty garments than usual.
On finding that we came without any hostile intentions, and were more
likely to give than receive of them, they cordially welcomed us. They
were in a state of commotion, nearly the whole village being prepared to
turn out on a grand hunt. When they understood that we also were
hunters, they invited us to accompany them. They had been forming for
some time past a huge trap, called a _hopo_, about three or four miles
away, near a stream in the neighbourhood, at which large numbers of game
were accustomed to assemble. As the narrow end was toward the village,
we were able to examine it on our way. The hopo consists of two hedges
formed of stakes and boughs driven into the ground at a considerable
distance from each other, toward the end opening into the wild part of
the country where animals are likely to be found, and closing in toward
each other till they almost approach. They then form a narrow passage,
some sixty yards long, at the end of which a pit is dug, eight or ten
feet deep, and fifteen or more in length and breadth. We found that
trunks of trees were laid across the two ends, to prevent the animals
which leap in from scrambling out again, which they would otherwise very
easily do. The pit itself was also surrounded by high palisades, bound
together by cross-pieces. Thus it formed a complete trap, from which it
seemed almost impossible that any animals which have once entered could
escape. The hole was likewise covered over with a sort of matting of
green rushes, which concealed the pit below. As I and my dark-skinned
companions proceeded along the hedge, I thought we should never come to
the end of it. I calculated, indeed, that the hedges were upwards of a
mile long, and the same distance apart at their extremities. The
hunters now extended themselves, each man keeping within sight of the
other, forming a circle round the broad entrance of the hopo of four or
five miles in extent, thus surrounding a large area. I could see within
it immense numbers of animals, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, gnus,
pallas, rhinoceroses, hartbeests, and, indeed, all sorts of deer, large
and small. At a signal from their chief, which was passed along the
line, they began to close in, shouting and shrieking at the top of their
voices. On we went, the semicircle gradually decreasing, till we were
within speaking distance of each other; and every mile we advanced the
animals appeared to grow thicker and thicker, and I could count a dozen
or more creatures of different species in sight at the same moment. Now
a herd of a dozen buffaloes, now twenty zebras and as many cameleopards
might be seen scampering over the plain, followed by numerous steinboks
or koodoos, graceful oryxes or hartbeests leaping and bounding away
before them. Now and then some of the animals would turn round and
charge their pursuers, who fled on either side, darting their spears and
often transfixing them. The zebras were amongst the most difficult to
drive in. They seemed aware of their danger, and now one, open-mouthed,
would charge at a hunter, who had to defend himself with his shield; and
then a whole herd would break away, and, dashing through the cordon,
gallop back to their native wilds. Still numbers were driven on.
Buffaloes and giraffes were flying together, all fancying that they were
escaping a common danger, while rushing on to destruction. At last the
hedges of the hopo were reached, and on the outer side numerous hunters
were stationed, shouting, and shrieking, and shaking their spears and
shields, still further to increase the confusion of the terror-stricken
animals. When any of them approached the hedge, a well-aimed spear was
planted in their sides, the cries of the stricken animals increasing the
terror of the rest. On pressed the hunters, driving the game closer and
closer together, till, pressed up in one dense mass, even the most wary
could no longer attempt to turn and fly. Fearful was the din of the
shrieks and shouts which rent the welkin. The leading animals dashed
madly forward, thinking to escape from their foes behind. The remainder
followed, unable to see over the heads of those in front, but hoping
that they had found a way to escape.
"By Igubo's advice, I had gone on the outside; for, in truth, the line
of hunters which pressed on through the hopo was exposed to no little
danger from the maddened beasts, which even now occasionally turning
round, dashed through them, and the greatest activity alone could have
saved the men from being trampled on by the terrified animals. Now a
huge buffalo would leap into the pit through the slender covering of
rushes; now a tall giraffe would go toppling over; an active koodoo or
gemsbok would spring over their heads, to fall hopelessly into the same
trap. In a short time the whole pit was filled with a living, moving,
struggling mass of animals, fearful to look at. The savage hunters,
wild with excitement, were spearing with relentless eagerness the poor
creatures, those below being borne down by the weight of their hapless
fellows who brought up the rear. A beautiful koodoo was among the
latter. On it came, leaping away, having escaped the spears of its
enemies. It reached the fatal pit. I could not help feeling an
interest in the creature. Would it too be added to the victims? It
hesitated not a moment, but bounding over the beams, seemed scarcely to
touch the animals below, as with a spring it cleared the opposite side.
In vain the hunters darted their spears. Off it dashed like the wind,
and the satisfaction I felt at its escape made some amends to me for the
misery and suffering I had beheld. I literally turned sick with horror,
and hope I may never witness such a scene again. The savages, however,
seemed to consider it magnificent sport, and stood over the pit plunging
their spears into any animal which appeared moving. So far I was
thankful, as it put them out of their misery. The hunters did not
altogether escape. Some got severe kicks; several had been knocked over
and trampled on, in spite of their activity. They had succeeded,
however, in driving upwards of forty animals into the pit; for, of
course, of those which had been first assembled, a large number had
escaped, while a good many had been speared to death before reaching it,
and others had escaped into the wilds with spears in their sides, there
in most instances to die miserably. Their success put our new friends
in excellent humour. They shouted, and shrieked, and danced as they
hauled up the animals one by one out of the hopo, and eagerly commenced
cutting them up and dividing the flesh. All was meat for their pots--
the zebra and giraffe, as well as the buffalo and deer.
"It was nearly evening before the work was over. They pressed us to
remain to see another on the following day, but I had had enough of it,
and more than enough, indeed. I do not know how the case would have
been if I had been very hungry and wanted food. Probably I might have
experienced some of the satisfaction which our savage friends did.
Igubo and his sons were highly delighted at the number of animals
caught, at the same time he acknowledged that the way among his own
people of catching game was far less cruel. Further to the north, large
nets are spread round the trunks of trees, towards which the animals are
driven, much in the manner I have just described. The nets, however,
only serve for smaller animals, as large ones would break through them.
People are stationed behind the trees to spear any creature of larger
size which seems likely to break the nets.
"Our friends pressed on us some of the meat, which, as we had a few
articles to give in exchange, we accepted, and parted very excellent
friends.
"As I had no wish to spend a night in their huts, we pushed on as far as
we could homewards, and did not stop while a ray of sunlight enabled us
to see our way. We were pretty well tired with our day's exertions, but
it was necessary to light fires, not only to cook our supper, but to
guard ourselves against visits from any of the lions or hyenas which
might be prowling about. We all therefore set to work to collect wood
as fast as we could. While thus employed, I heard young Mango cry out;
but on looking round in the direction where I had last seen him, he was
nowhere visible. A dread seized me that a lion had carried him off; but
again I heard him cry out, and on hurrying forward I was very nearly
going head over heels into a deep pit, into which he had fallen. I
shouted out to Igubo, who came to my assistance; and with the help of
our belts we hauled him up. Mango's chief alarm had arisen from the
dread of finding some animal at the bottom. I was very glad, when we
drew him up, to discover that, excepting a few slight bruises, he was
none the worse for his tumble.
"As may be supposed, we were cautious after this how we moved about, for
we well knew that where one pit-fall had been formed, probably many more
existed in the neighbourhood. We were glad when at last we had
collected a sufficient supply of wood to last us through the night; and
I almost fell asleep while putting the meat and cassava bread into my
mouth. We had placed our packs by our sides, using some logs of timber
for our pillows. Igubo had promised to keep the first watch; and so he
did, I have no doubt, to the best of his ability. When, however, I at
length awoke, I saw the fire very low, though there was just flame
enough to cast its light on a creature stealthily creeping up towards
us. I expected the next instant to be engaged in deadly combat with a
panther or a lion. I sprang to my feet, seizing my rifle and calling to
my companions. The next moment I saw that the creature was a jackal,
and scarcely worthy of a shot. Still undaunted, he was on the point of
seizing one of the packs nearest to him, when I hove a log of wood at
his head. On this he beat a retreat, uttering a mocking shout of
laughter--so it seemed to me--and quickly disappeared. The alarm he had
caused prevented us wishing again to go to sleep; and well it was we did
not, for directly afterwards the roar of a lion broke the silence of
night. Igubo threw more logs on the five, and as the flames burst up we
saw two or three huge monsters stalking round us, but afraid to
approach. Now they came near enough for the light of the fire to shine
on them; but directly afterwards, even before I could get my rifle ready
to shoot, they had disappeared in the dark shades of the surrounding
trees or bushes.
"As soon as it was daylight, we once more commenced our march. We had
not gone far, when the two boys, who were a little in advance, came
rushing back with countenances of dismay, to let us understand that they
had suddenly come upon some huge beast which was on the point of
springing on them. We advanced, in consequence, cautiously, expecting
every moment to meet the monster. In a short time we caught sight of a
gigantic tiger-wolf, or spotted hyena, sitting under a bush, and
growling fiercely at us. I raised my rifle to fire, expecting the beast
to spring; but it sat without moving. On getting nearer, what was my
horror to see that his forepaws and the skin and flesh of the legs had
been gnawed away! Still he showed his savage nature by endeavouring to
crawl towards us. To put an end to his sufferings, I fired at his head,
when he sank to the ground; and Igubo, running up to him, seized him by
the tail, and struck him several times with his knife, though it was not
until after repeated blows that an end was put to the creature's
existence. How he had been thus mangled, I could not at first
understand, till Igubo asserted that it had been done by a lion; that
probably they had quarrelled over their prey, and that then the lion had
attacked him and mangled him in the dreadful manner I have described.
Had we not found him, he would certainly have died miserably in the
course of another day or two, and very likely have fallen a victim to an
army of soldier-ants.
"We met with several other adventures during the day, and managed
somehow or other to lose our way, or we should have reached home before
nightfall. Contrary to our intentions, we had therefore to camp out for
another night. We had an ample supply of food, but no water could be
found, and we had little more than a couple of pints to divide among us,
which, though it might have been sufficient to supply an old lady with a
cup of tea, was but little to satisfy the thirsty throats of travellers
in this burning clime."
When Stanley heard of the attack made by the lion on our camp, he
declared that he must set out at once and put a stop to his
depredations. After a consultation, however, with Igubo, he agreed to
wait till the evening, when they supposed the lion would go down to a
spot near the river to drink. It was a small creek, rather, where the
banks were sufficiently low and hard to allow the animals to reach the
water without difficulty, which they could not do at many places along
the borders of the lake on account of the wide fringe of reeds and thick
underwood which encircled it.
"Is the gemsbok the only animal we have lost?"
"Oh no, indeed," cried Leo. "Poor Chico is gone!"
"What I did the lion carry him off?" asked Stanley.
"Oh no. A horrid monster of a crocodile," answered Leo. "I wish we
could punish the brute."
Igubo seemed to understand what was said. "I do it," he remarked.
"Yes," said Timbo; "he say he kill crocodile; no 'fraid of crocodile!"
How he was going to manage it, however, he did not inform us.
As may be supposed, Stanley dropped to sleep over his breakfast, and was
glad directly afterwards to go to bed. Igubo and his boys followed his
example; but after a few hours' rest, they again appeared, as fresh as
if they had not been undergoing severe exertion for a couple of days
under an African sun.
"You come and see Igubo kill de crocodile," I heard Timbo say to Leo and
Natty.
Igubo had provided himself with a piece of one of the animals which he
had brought home, and which had become no longer eatable. He had
fastened it to the end of a long rope, and his sons carried it down to
the water. Timbo and Jack, with the two boys, set off after them; and,
taking my rifle, I followed to see what would happen.
On reaching the river, Igubo threw in the meat as far as he could,
fastening the end of the rope to the trunk of a tree. Then, on his
making a sign to us to hide ourselves, we retired behind some bushes.
In a short time the rope was violently tugged, and Igubo, throwing off
his scanty garments, drew his sharp knife from its sheath, and sprang
into the water. I could not refrain from crying out, and entreating him
to come back; but he paid no heed to me, and swam on. Presently he
disappeared, and I felt horror-struck at the thought that a crocodile
had seized him; but directly afterwards the snout of the huge monster
appeared above the water, Igubo rising at the same time directly behind
it. The creature, instead of attempting to turn, made towards the bank,
at a short distance off. Igubo followed; and I saw his hand raised, and
his dagger descended into the side of the creature. Still the crocodile
did not attempt to turn, but directly afterwards reaching the bank,
climbed up it. Igubo followed, and again plunged his knife into the
monster's side. Every instant I expected to see him seized by its
terrific jaws; but the creature seemed terror-stricken, and made no
attempt at defence. Again and again the black plunged in his knife,
while the crocodile vainly endeavoured to escape. The next instant
Igubo was on its back, and the creature lay without moving. A few
minutes only had passed. It opened its vast jaws, each time more
languidly than before, till at length it sank down, and, after a few
struggles, was evidently dead. Igubo, springing up, flourished his
knife over his head in triumph. Jack, running to the canoe, began to
launch it. We all jumped in, and paddled off to the bank, Timbo
bringing the rope with him. We fastened it round the crocodile's neck,
and towed the body in triumph to the shore, up which we hauled it.
"Igubo say we find eggs not far off," said Timbo.
Mango and his brother, at a sign from their father, began at once
hunting about, and in a short time called us to them. There was a large
hole in the bank concealed by overhanging bushes. It was full of eggs,
about the size of those of a goose. On counting them we found no less
than sixty. The shell was white and partially elastic, both ends being
exactly the same size. The nest was about four yards from the water. A
pathway led up to it; and Igubo told Timbo, that after the crocodile has
deposited her eggs, she covers them up with about four feet of earth,
and returns afterwards to clear it away, and to assist the young out of
the shells. After this, she leads them to the water, where she leaves
them to catch small fish for themselves. At a little distance was
another nest, from which the inmates had just been set free; and on a
sandbank a little way down we caught sight of a number of the little
monsters crawling about. They appeared in no way afraid of us as we
approached, and Mango and his brother speared several. They were about
ten inches long, with yellow eyes, the pupil being merely a
perpendicular slit. They were marked with transverse stripes of pale
green and brown, about half an inch in width. Savage little monsters
they were, too; for though their teeth were but partly developed, they
turned round and bit at the weapon darted at them, uttering at the same
time a sharp yelp like that of a small puppy when it first tries to
bark. Igubo could not say whether the mother crocodile eats up her
young occasionally, though, from the savage character of the creature, I
should think it very likely that she does, if pressed by hunger. As is
well-known, the _Ichneumon_ has the reputation on the banks of the Nile
of killing young crocodiles; but Igubo did not know whether they ever do
so in this part of the world. He and his boys collected all the eggs
they could find, declaring that they were excellent for eating. They
however told us that they should only consume the yoke, as the white of
the egg does not coagulate. When it is known what a vast number of eggs
a crocodile lays, it may be supposed that the simplest way of getting
rid of the creatures is to destroy them before they are hatched. It
would seem almost hopeless to attempt to exterminate them by killing
only the old ones. However, I fancy they have a good many enemies, and
that a large number of the young do not grow up. As we were walking
along the bank, we saw, close to the water, a young crocodile just
making his way into it; and Mango, leaping down, captured the little
creature. Even then it showed its disposition by attempting to bite his
fingers. On examining it, we found a portion of yoke, almost the size
of a hen's egg, fastened by a membrane to the abdomen; and when we
afterwards carried it up to David, he told us that he had no doubt it
was left there as a supply of nourishment, to enable the creature to
support existence till it was strong enough to catch fish for itself.
Igubo declared that they caught the fish by means of their broad scaly
tails. The eggs, I should say, had a strong internal membrane, and a
small quantity only of lime in their composition.
We had some difficulty in inducing our friends to believe the account we
gave them of Igubo's exploit. He however undertook, if they were not
satisfied, to kill a crocodile in the same way another day.
"Oh! pray tell him not to make the attempt!" exclaimed Kate. "It is far
too perilous; and though he may succeed once or twice, some day another
crocodile may come in support of its companion and carry him off."
Igubo only laughed when this was said to him. He had killed crocodiles
in that way since he was a boy, and there was no reason why he should
not do so as long as he was able to swim.
While speaking of crocodiles, I should observe that the family of huge
saurians, to which the monsters belong, is divided into three genera:
_Alligator_ is peculiar to America; _Crocodilus_ is common both to the
Old and New World; while a third, _Gavialis_, is found in the Ganges and
other rivers on the continent of India. They differ in appearance from
each other, but their habits in most respects are similar. The true
crocodile, however, frequents occasionally the mouths of large rivers
where the salt water enters, and it has been known to swim between
different islands at considerable distances from each other. I believe
that at the commencement of my journal I have sometimes inadvertently
written alligator instead of crocodile, when speaking of the monsters we
encountered so frequently.