A GAME-COUNTRY. 223 Although the abundance of game is a blessing to the people, I attribute to it a fact which I could not previously explain ; all cattle brought here, and riding animals, such as donkeys, mules, &c., are ruined after a short stay. Swellings on different parts of the body, loss of appetite, emaciation, and finally death follow one another speedily, a combination of symptoms which I attribute to the intrusion of intestinal worms. This view is confirmed by the fact that all the game absolutely swarms with worms; this is always the case in countries where salt is rare. Another pest, also connected with the game, is the existence of numerous ticks, which much inconvenience a traveller on the march. But more dreaded guests than these are attracted hither by the abundance of game; lions, leopards, cheetahs (Cynailurus guttatus), smaller animals of the cat species (Felis serval and J’. caligata), and hyeenas are such familiar sights that one soon learns to take no notice of them.

Only the leopards are dreaded, for they often attack men, which the lions never do, although they lurk in the bush in twos and threes. The Negroes tell me that they are under the control of a chief named Lottor, a very simple, good-natured man, who always keeps two tame lions in his house (a fact), and as long as he receives occasional presents of corn and goats, prevents the wild lions from doing any mischief. It is curious to note that the lions here are really good-tempered (perhaps because they find abundance of food), and they are also much admired, as was shown by the following incident:—One day we came upon a lion caught in a pitfall, whereupon Chief Lottor was fetched, and he pushed into the pit branches of trees to enable the lion to get out; this it did, and after giving us a roar of acknowledgment, walked off unharmed.

Another chief is said to possess the power of keeping the game away from the pitfalls. One of our men told me that this chief was at one time detained under arrest at the station for a few hours, the consequence being that no game came near the station for about eight days, so that a present had to be sent to the chief to appease him. Chief Chulong’s wife also is famous for her power over the numerous crocodiles which make their home in Khor Gineti.

Fishing is ardently pursued by the women, and is chiefly