REST AFTER LABOUR. 39 



the darkness of the night. I was regularly tired out 

 when I arrived, but. a bath, clean clothes, and good 

 dinner, soon set me up all right again. Before 

 I turned in for the night I smoked a cheroot, lying 

 upon a carpet spread upon some dry leaves before 

 a huge log-fire in front of the hut round which my 

 gang and all the village men, women, and children 

 were assembled. Chineah distributed tobacco to 

 all, and concocted a brew of arrack-punch, that 

 met with universal approbation ; after which the 

 trophies were handed round, whilst one of the 

 Mulchers, with much gesticulation and humour, 

 gave an account of the affair, as he had witnessed 

 it from the top of a tree, which recital produced 

 an extraordinary effect upon his listeners, for when 

 he came to the part when we were discovered by 

 the elephant, he imitated very correctly the dif- 

 ferent noises made by that animal ; and as they sat 

 on their heels cuddling their knees, they began to 

 roll their eyes, grunt, and shake about, every now 

 and then breaking out into strange noises and 

 cries, as if the scene was actually before them ; 

 however, the relation produced a satisfactory effect, 



