A MARCH ALONG THE COAST. Ill 



" Jambo (greeting) ! " said he. 



" Jambo ! " I replied mildly. 



Again a five-minute silence. I had begun 

 reading, and had all but forgotten his pres- 

 ence. 



" Jambo bwana (greeting, master) ! " he rolled 

 out. 



" Jambo ! " I repeated. 



The same dignified, unhasting pause. 



" Jambo bwana m'kubwa (greeting, great mas- 

 ter) ! " 



" Jambo ! " quoth I, and went on reading. The 

 sun was dropping, but the old man seemed in 

 no hurry. 



" Jambo bwana m'kubwa sana (greeting, most 

 mighty master) ! " he boomed at last. 



" Jambo ! " said I. 



This would seem to strike the superlative, and 

 I expected now that he would state his busi- 

 ness, but the old man had one more shot in his 

 locker. 



" Jambo bwana m'kubwa kabeesa sana (greet- 

 ing, mightiest possible master) ! " it came. 



Then in due course he delicately hinted that a 

 gift of tobacco would not come amiss. 



F. returned a trifle earlier than usual, to admit 

 that his quest was hopeless, that his physical 



