54 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



charging. Perhaps twenty men in accurate replica 

 of those in the small boats had charge of the 

 job. They had their own methods. After a long 

 interval devoted strictly to nothing, some un- 

 fathomable impulse would incite one or two or 

 three of the natives to tackle a trunk. At it 

 they tugged and heaved and pushed in the 

 manner of ants making off with a particularly 

 large fly or other treasure trove, tossing it up 

 the steep gangway to the level of our decks. The 

 trunks once safely bestowed, all interest, all in- 

 dustry, died. We thought that finished it, and 

 wondered why the tug did not pull out of the 

 way. But always, after an interval, another 

 bright idea would strike another native or natives. 

 He or they would disappear beneath the can- 

 vas awning over the tug's deck, to emerge 

 shortly, carrying almost anything, from a par- 

 asol to a heavy chest. 



On close inspection they proved to be a very 

 small people. The impression of graceful height 

 had come from the slenderness and justness of 

 their proportions, the smalhiess of their bones, 

 and the upright grace of their carriage. After 

 standing alongside one, we acquired a fine re- 

 spect for their ability to handle those trunks 

 at all. 



