WILD HUNTING COMPANIONS 169 



of all of them were ostentatiously against the 

 culprit, and they were prepared for the virtuous 

 enjoyment characteristic of the orthodox sure- 

 of-their-salvation at a heresy trial. 



Court opened with me in my camp-chair in 

 front of the tent. Ali stood beside me, erect 

 with gratified horror, and eager to show that 

 he was not merely an interpreter but a prose 

 cutor and assistant judge. Abject Gouvimali 

 stood in front, with head hanging. The others 

 ranged themselves in a semicircle, and filled 

 the function of a Greek chorus. The proceed 

 ings were as follows: 



I (with frowning majesty): &quot;Tell Gouvimali he knows 

 that I have treated him very, very well; besides his wages, 

 I have given him tea and sugar and tobacco and a red 

 blanket.&quot; 



Ali translates with the thunderous eloquence of Cicero 

 against Verres; Verres writhes. 



Chorus (with hands raised at the thought of such 

 magnificent generosity): &quot;Oh, what a good Bwana!&quot; 



I (reproachfully): &quot;Whenever I shot a lion or an ele 

 phant I gave him some silver rupees.&quot; 



Ali translates this with a voice shaken by emotion over 

 the human baseness that could forget such gifts. 



Chorus (in ecstatic contemplation of my virtue): &quot;Oh, 

 what a generous Bwana!&quot; 



I (leaning forward toward the accused): &quot;And yet he 

 started to shoot at a rhinoceros the Bwana Merodadi 

 [Dandy Master, the Master who was a dandy to shoot and 

 ride and get game] was photographing.&quot; 



