384 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



and also that he had received a pretty lively 

 reception. Magic to keep him away seemed 

 like a safe enough proposition, for the chances 

 were he would keep himself away. 



Therefore I filled a quart measure with clear 

 water, passed my hand across its untroubled 

 surface and lo ! it turned a clear bright pink ! 



Long-drawn exclamations of " Eigh ! Eigh ! " 

 greeted this magic, performed by means of 

 permanganate crystals held between the fingers. 



" With this bathe the wounds of your steer. 

 Then sprinkle the remainder over your cattle. 

 The lion will not return," said I. Then reflect- 

 ing that I was to be some time in the country, 

 and that the lion might get over his scare, I 

 added, " The power of this magic is three days." 



They departed very much impressed. A little 

 later Memba Sasa and I followed them. The 

 manyatta was most picturesquely placed atop 

 the conical hill at the foot of the valley. From 

 its elevation we could see here and there in the 

 distance the variegated blotches of red and 

 white and black that represented the cattle 

 herds. Innumerable flocks of sheep and goats, 

 under charge of the small boys and youths, 

 fed nearer at hand. The low smooth-plastered 

 huts, with their abattis of thorn bush between, 



