244 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
grass, while I sat quietly in my chair smoking a cigarette 
and waiting for the natives to speak first. After a good deal 
of coughing and spitting, one old man ventured to make a 
remark. “ Leibon” (which means master or chief), “ we 
have thought a long time, and we have come to the con- 
clusion that we will take still more of your cloth. We will 
bring you one more sheep.” — ‘“ One more sheep!” I said. 
“Is this all you people who have cattle by the thousands 
can do for me? Good-night, my friends; if you do not 
bring at least fifteen good oxen to sell me before I leave 
your country, I will take that many and more by force.” 
They made many protestations, but I would listen no 
longer, and dismissed them from the camp. 
On May 24 we marched for nearly four hours over the 
plateau in a westerly direction. The whole of this grassy 
plateau land may be described as a series of shallow 
basins, the centre of each basin being covered with dense 
bush, while outside of this jungle are fine, open, grassy 
pastures. Where the edges of the basins join one another 
they take the shape of low hills or ridges, which are also 
bushy near the top. The road was very good except where 
we had to cut our way through the bushy bottom lands. 
An elephant made its appearance near our camp, coming 
from among the bushes, and walking in amongst the camels. 
He became suddenly frightened, however, and dashed off 
again into the jungle just as I was picking up my rifle to 
go after him. 
The inhabitants of three small villages near by did not 
seem to possess many cattle, but nevertheless they brought 
a large bullock and eight sheep for sale, which was fair 
enough considering that they were so poor. I told them 
I was quite satisfied with what they brought, but that it 
would go hard with the people of Lenja if they did not 
bring before night the bullocks I had ordered. No more 
