The elephant-hunters were very superstitious, and used to spend a week before the new moon rose in “ making medicine “ to ensure the success of the ensuing expedition. As a consequence they could only be induced to go hunting every second new moon, and nothing would persuade them to start on an expedition (which generally lasted a month) under any other conditions. They were armed with old long ten-bore muskets, and refused to use either lead or iron as bullets, saying that copper made the best missile.

We used to buy all the copper bracelets and anklets obtainable from the women, and hammer them into balls. I had always my suspicions, however, that copper, being very valuable throughout the country, was found a convenient form of money. I was sorry never to have had time to accompany one of these