IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



stopped. We lighted many fires, and the men col- 

 lected branches of trees for me to sleep upon. 



Early the next morning we got ready to start. We 

 followed in single file the footpath — which was almost 

 obliterated, for it was seldom used now except for 

 hunting — and passed through former plantations of 

 plantain and cassava, now covered with a dense im- 

 penetrable jungle, far worse than any part of the 

 forest. 



The walking was very tedious, for since the path 

 had been used but seldom, numerous trees or their 

 branches had fallen across it. We halted a little 

 after midday to rest and to eat near a lonely crystal- 

 like little rivulet from which we could get delicious 

 water to drink. Then we continued our way until 

 almost sunset. 



Rogala, who was leading, suddenly stopped, and I 

 followed his example. The rest of the party, who 

 were behind, gradually came up with us one by one. 

 Then the men said : " Here, Oguizi, we are to build 

 our camp," pointing to a little spring bubbling out 

 of the ground. 



I said to myself: "We need not bother about 

 water if we are besieged in our camp, for the spring 

 will be within our enclosure." 



We slept under the trees, and the next morning we 



64 



