IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



The plantain trees and the cassava grew in the 

 midst of branches of the trees that had been felled 

 and burned afterwards. Not far off was the river, 

 flowing in the midst of the dark silent forest, which 

 was only disturbed now and then by the shrill cries 

 of parrots, or the chatter of a troop of monkeys or 

 the tap of the woodpecker. In the forest surround- 

 ing the houses hung huge lianas which looked like 

 gigantic swinging snakes. Some of the trees had 

 gorgeous flowers, and orchids grew on the bark of 

 many. The foliage was greatly diversified. 



On the border of the clearing stood a gigantic elimi 

 tree ; along its trunk came out a soft sticky whitish 

 gum, which the people use to make torches with. The 

 forest seemed to be made of three or four layers of 

 trees growing on the top of each other, while here 

 and there, towering above all, rose an immense one 

 that seemed to look down on the great forest from 

 its own lofty height. Under all the trees was the 

 thick jungle, in which roamed wild and often fero- 

 cious beasts. 



Rogala brought a stool and invited me to a seat 

 under the veranda of his house. Towards sunset 

 Rogala's wife returned with three boys, their children. 

 She carried an infant in a sling on her back. She 

 looked at me in fear and trembling, and she and the 



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