ing of villages constituting the territory of the
Sultan of Enguetra who like the Sultan of Djabir is not a particularly
good chief. His people, however, receive the porters kindly and give
them bananas. Then on again under a very fierce sun until the north bank
of the Likati river is reached. Here we enter a canoe and are rapidly
paddled down the stream which is only about twenty yards wide, until we
reach a clearing in the forest in which the Post of Enguetra is being
built by Lieutenant Gaspard. In a few weeks he has constructed a fine
brick house of two storeys with a large verandah looking down a natural
avenue to the river.

At this time of the year--the early days of November--the Post is
practically an island for the river flows on one side and on the other
three water is standing in the forest to the depth of three or four
feet. This is no doubt good for the rubber vines but bad for hunting.
However, I determine to settle here for a week or two and hunt the
forest and plains about. Next morning herefore I start at 5 a.m. in the
dark and follow the guide who evidently feels the cold and steps out at
a good pace. After passing through the plantation we strike into dense
forest and the walking becomes very difficult. Roots of trees below,
branches and vines above have to be dodged all the time and it is a
relief to march along the bed of a stream even if it has two or three
feet of water in it. It is impossible to see for more than a yard or two
on each side through the dense undergrowth and the sun and sky are quite
invisible although patches of lights show that the former is now well
above the level of the tallest tree. Traces of elephant and antelope
abound, the former being of small size without points worth having.
After two hours we reach the plain and find the water nearly six feet
deep. There is no place about to pitch a tent and it is extremely
difficult marching in the forest in the night, but the only chance of an
elephant is to be here an hour or two before daybreak. Indeed it is
almost impossible to hunt until the water subsides and that means
waiting for over a month. However there are plenty of small beasts and
birds so the day was not altogether wasted.

The Congo is undoubtedly the land of exaggerations. Everything here is
bigger or smaller than any where else. If the elephants are the largest
in the world the insects are the smallest and Enguetra is especially
favoured by their attendance. Milli