FIGHTING AN AFRICAN GRASS-FIRE 35 



and a month later it is so dry that both the 

 whites and the natives set fire to it in order to 

 facilitate travel. When fired by the blacks the 

 chief of the district usually appoints a certain 

 day for the conflagration, that the people may 

 keep their stock enclosed and make ready for 

 the great event. 



On entering the White Nile from Lake Albert 

 one evening about ten o'clock, we travelled all 

 night, all the next day, and at eleven o'clock 

 that evening came to a place that was eventu- 

 ally named "Rhino Camp." It was pitch dark 

 and the native pilot felt uncertain of his bear- 

 ings, so we thought it unwise to unload the boats 

 until dawn should apprise us of our position; 

 therefore we spent the night on the tiny launch, 

 serenaded by lions, hippopotami or "hippos" as 

 they are commonly called, and elephants. In 

 the morning we found ourselves well located, so 

 the boats were beached and the duffel unloaded. 



It was an attractive spot. The land rose 

 gradually from the shore; the bank was lined 

 with trees and bushes of various species, and an 

 open thorn-tree grove extended inland several 

 hundred yards, while beneath them the elephant- 

 grass was eight or ten feet high. 



