There are two trapping methods for the species that is of greatest interest Rynchocyon, low nets and Tomahawk traps. It is intensive work, nets are opened early and checked twice, then closed at night and traps are checked three times, left open at night and checked at first light.
Success, four smaller elephant shrews caught, Petrodromus tetradactylus (Four-toed Elephant Shrew). They are beautiful things, with cream rims to their eyes and large rounded ears, with slightly comical pointed noses and elegant thin legs, the back ones elongated for jumping.
At dusk there is a ceremony to welcome our scientists – Untamar and the new young Queen have visited to clean the graves. We gather at the main grave site where the three Barons are buried including the first. (Untamar is the fifth Baron of Mareja). Muslim chants lead into animalist thanks and request for guidance. We are all crouched and listen intently to the Machua, then Portuguese then English translation. A waft of incense floats from the shovel of hot coals outside the first baron’s grave marked out with head and foot stones and covered in a small grass roof. Thanks for the harmony between black and white people here at Mareja, that no troubles have come with the white people, that the scientists may leave with all they hoped for, and that a willingness for good remains.
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