IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



were all at work getting material for our camp. The 

 men went to cut poles ; the women carried them to 

 the camping-ground, or went after leaves to be 

 twisted into ropes. 



The cutting of long poles was the most laborious 

 work, for a great many were required. The axes had 

 to be sharpened many times. But after much hard toil 

 we succeeded in making a fortified encampment forty 

 feet square, with the spring in one of the corners. 



After that we built separate shelters for every one 

 of those who were to remain behind, to sleep under ; 

 then a little house made entirely of sticks close to- 

 gether for Ndova, in which we were to shut him when 

 we went into the forest without him, so that he might 

 be protected from snakes, or birds of prey, such as 

 eagles, or carnivorous animals. Then we made two 

 ladders with lianas. They were almost as flexible as 

 if they had been ropes made of hemp. One was to 

 hang inside and the other outside. I made two 

 shelters to keep our powder in, for I did not want to 

 have the whole of it in one place in case of fire. We 

 cut all kinds of briars, thorn-bushes, big aloes, and 

 small branches of trees, and put them outside the 

 fence for quite a distance, so that if any one came 

 through them, no matter how careful he might be, we 

 should hear them. 



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