404 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



shaped Avomen, who were in that state of nature 

 that gave the poet the idea " that beauty unadorned 

 is adorned the most," for they were even destitute 

 of the conventional fig-leaf. 



They had evidently just turned out of their hut 

 to see what their dogs were barking at, but the 

 sight of my white face frightened them to a stand- 

 still, and for a moment they stood like statues; 

 then, recovering the use of their limbs and their 

 tongues at the same time, they bolted, howling, 

 through the narrow door-way of their domicile. 

 Their loud cries roused up the people, and thinking 

 perhaps that their village was attacked, a number 

 of men armed with spears, knives and shields, came 

 cautiously out, uttering a peculiarly shrill yell, which 

 was evidently the " gathering cry" to assemble the 

 men when danger threatened. 



Although things looked rather warlike — as I saw 

 no fire-arms amongst them, whilst I had a brace of 

 revolvers in my belt, as well as my rifle — I deter- 

 mined to stand my ground, notwithstanding the 

 threatening appearance of some of the men, who 

 were evidently hesitating whether to make a rush 



