When we got sight of our camp, we looked around and listened awhile, but nobody was there. We went after the ladder, climbed it, and soon were within the enclosure. Ndova's house was just as it was. Rogala's house for the new moon was intact. The large stock of firewood we had gathered was all there. Nothing had been disturbed. Our abode had been discovered by no one.
Two days after Shinshooko and Alapai returned loaded with plantains. We were glad to see them again, and enjoyed the plantains prodigiously.
A few days after our return I went into the forest in search of game. Towards noon I heard, at some distance from the path, a noise made by some animal. I left the path and went in the direction of the noise. The jungle in that part of the forest was not thick, and I could walk fast.
After a while I saw amidst the trees some black objects moving ahead of me. At first I thought they were men, but soon discovered they were nginas. I hid behind the trunk of a tree and watched them. There were three nginas. I saw the biggest take a young tree several inches in diameter, break it in two, and eat the heart of the wood.
The nginas were not old, and looked extremely human. They moved away a little further, and where a fruit called tonda by the natives was growing, they uttered chuckles of delight at their discovery. One handed a tonda to one of the others. I was much afraid they would see me, but after eating the tondas they moved further off and got into the midst of some pineapples, which drew from them more guttural sounds of content. The pineapples disappeared quickly. They ate at least ten each. Then they rested and looked at one another.
Before long, however, they became suspicious, and moved away. I followed in their tracks, but, in my eagerness to pursue them, I omitted to make marks of any kind as I went along so that I could find my way back. It was a great mistake.
Twice I came within sight of the nginas, but intervening branches and overhanging lianas prevented me from using "Bulldog" and getting a shot at them. Finally, I gave up the chase. Then I remembered that during my excitement I had forgotten to mark the trees in order to find my way back, and soon I realized that I was lost. I was in a great dilemma, and I reproached myself for being so careless, and for not having followed the advice that had been given me in the forest.