nderstand 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, the