Lilongwe 



looking the river and the forest-covered valley 

 through which it runs. The present Resident has 

 built himself a cottage there, to which he retires 

 whenever his duties permit. 



The Resident's house is very comfortable, with 

 wide, shady verandah all round it. On the walls of 

 the living room were a most interesting collection of 

 native weapons and other curios, including the 

 "hippo" spears with ropes attached to them, used 

 by the Lake fishermen, and the short weighted 

 spears with which natives bait their elephant traps. 



In addition to his curios, Mr. Gordon had a 

 small menagerie, where were a couple of leopards 

 and a young roan antelope, which followed its 

 keeper about like a dog. I asked him whether he 

 would give my eagle a home, as his temper was 

 getting spoilt by the continual travelling, and this 

 he kindly consented to do. From the intense way 

 in which he looked at me I really think the bird 

 knew that I was leaving him, and regretted my 

 departure. 



A room in the house was placed at our disposal 

 a welcome retreat during the heat of the day; but 

 as there were no arrangements indoors for fixing the 

 mosquito-curtains over our camp beds, our tent was 

 pitched just outside for us to sleep in. In a tent 

 mosquito curtains are tied to tapes sewn into the 

 lining above the bed. 



Just after dark, John, while walking in the com- 

 pound across some rather long grass, was bitten in 

 the ankle by a young puff adder, and very sensibly 

 came at once to tell us of the accident. Mr. Gordon, 



75 



