A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



descends to earth with a great noise. A Belgian, 

 who had travelled through Africa with Stanley, told 

 us that he had often tried to get at native ideas. Some 

 tribes materialize everything, as they have no con- 

 ception of the abstract. This, of course, applies only 

 to the real savage. Natives who have been in touch 

 with civilization understand things better ; they have 

 wonderful imaginations, and enlarge greatly on their 

 experiences. 



The rain, though it cleared towards sunset, came 

 on again during the night. The wet season had 

 commenced. 



206 



