The frequency with which collections of villages are
found all over the countries we are alluding to, leaves hut
very little scope for the runs of wild animals, which are
found only in dense jungles, open forests, or prairies, generally
speaking, where hills can protect them, and near
rivers whose marshes produce a thick growth of vegetation
to conceal them from their most dreaded enemy—
man. The prowling, restless elephant, for instance, though
rarely seen, leaves indications of his nocturnal excursions
in every wilderness, by wantonly knocking down the
forest-trees. The morose rhinoceros, though less numerous,
are found in every thick jungle. So is the savage
buffalo, especially delighting in dark places, where he can
wallow in the mud and slake his thirst without much
trouble; and here also we find the wild pig.
The gruff hippopotamus is as widespread as any, being
found wherever there is water to float him; whilst the
shy giraffe and zebra affect all open forests and plains
where the grass is not too long; and antelopes, of great
variety in species and habits, are found wherever man will
let them alone and they can find water. The lion is,
however, rarely heard—much more seldom seen. Hyenas
are numerous, and thievishly inclined. Leopards, less
common, are the terror of the villagers. Foxes are not
numerous, but frighten the black traveller by their ill-
omened bark. Hares, about half the size of English ones
—there are no rabbits—are widely spread, but not numerous
; porcupines the same. "Wild cats, and animals of
the ferret kind, destroy game. Monkeys of various kinds
and squirrels harbour in the trees, but are rarely seen.
Tortoises and snakes, in great variety, crawl over the
ground, mostly after the rains. Eats and lizards—there
are but few mice—are very abundant, and feed both in
the fields and on the stores of the men.
The wily ostrich, bustard, and florikan affect all open
places. The guinea-fowl is the most numerous of all
irame-birds. Partridges come next, but do not afford
good sport; and quails are rare. Ducks and snipe appear
to love Africa less than any other country; and geese
and storks are only found where water most abounds.
Vultures are uncommon; hawks and crows much abound,
as in all other countries; but little birds, of every colour
and note, are discoverable in great quantities near water
and by the villages. Huge snails and small ones, as well
as fresh-water shells, are very abundant, though the con-
ehologist would find but little variety to repay his labours
; and insects, though innumerable, are best sought
for after the rains have set in.*
THE WANGUANA OR FREED MEN.
■ The Wa-n-gtiana, as their name implies, are men freed
from slavery; and as it is to these singular negroes act-
jpg as hired servants that I have been chiefly indebted for
opening this large section of Africa, a few general remarks
on their character cannot be out of place here.
I Of course, having been bom in Africa, and associated in
fhildhood with the untainted negroes, they retain all the
superstitious notions of the true aborigines, though somewhat
modified, and even corrupted, by that acquaintance
with the outer world which sharpens their wits.
■ Most of these men were doubtless caught in wars, as
pay be seen every day in Africa, made slaves of, and sold
to the Arabs for a few yards of common cloth, brass wire,
or beads. They would then be taken to the Zanzibar
market, resold like horses to the highest bidder, and then
kept in bondage by their new masters, more like children
of his family than anything else. In this new position
they were circumcised to make Mussulmans of them, that
their hands might be “ clean ” to slaughter their master’s
■ * The list of my fauna collection will l>e found in an early Number of the
■Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.’