TARANTULAS TO SUPPER 213 



as that lot of insects had been collected on 

 my behalf in good faith, I would reward the 

 collectors to the extent of three pence each, 

 plus a few dates. The gifts were joyfully 

 accepted and the boys departed. 



My enjoyment of the evening was largely 

 spoilt by tarantulas. Hundreds of these, at- 

 tracted by the light of the fire, came out from 

 among the rocks and ran fearlessly among us. 

 However, I managed to relish my supper of 

 roast pheasant; while my followers indulged 

 in a semi-cannibalistic repast of barbacued 

 monkey. Then I lit my pipe, took my kaross 

 and sought for a suitable couch some distance 

 away. After lying down I felt something 

 crawling on my neck; I sprang up, imagining 

 it to be a tarantula, but it turned out to be 

 only a ghoonya. 



Dawn broke deliciously. The chanting 

 falcons swooped from their cliff-eyries, and 

 filled the morning with wild music. A swim 

 in the swirling current would be a joy. I gave 

 Hendrick my clothes in a bundle and sent him 

 with them along the bank to a rocky point 

 about a quarter of a mile down stream. 

 I entered the water, swimming carefully while 

 near the bank, for fear of snags. The current 

 carried me luxuriously away. I emerged at 



