340 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



near the river, just outside the edge of the river 

 forest. The big trees sent their branches out 

 over us very far above, while a winding path led 

 us to the banks of the river where was a dingle 

 like an inner room. After dark we sat with V. 

 at our little camp fire. It was all very beautiful 

 the skyful of tropical stars, the silhouette of 

 the forest shutting them out, the velvet blackness 

 of the jungle flickering with fireflies, the purer 

 outlines of the hilltops and distant mountains to 

 the left, the porters' tiny fires before the little 

 white tents ; and in the distance, from the 

 direction of V.'s boma, the irregular throb of the 

 dance drum and the occasional snatch of barbaric 

 singing borne down on the night wind from 

 where his Wakambas were holding an n'goma. 

 A pair of ibis that had been ejected when we 

 made camp contributed intermittent outraged 

 and raucous squawks from the tiptop of some 

 neighbouring tree. 



