IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



The jungle in that part of the forest was not thick, 

 and I could walk fast. 



After a while I saw amidst the trees some black 

 objects moving ahead of me. At first I thought they 

 were men, but soon discovered they were nginas. I 

 hid behind the trunk of a tree and watched them. 

 There were three nginas. I saw the biggest take a 

 young tree several inches in diameter, break it in two, 

 and eat the heart of the wood. 



The nginas were not old, and looked extremely 

 human. They moved away a little further, and 

 where a fruit called tonda by the natives was growing, 

 they uttered chuckles of delight at their discovery. 

 One handed a tonda to one of the others. I was 

 much afraid they would see me, but after eating the 

 tondas they moved further off and got into the midst 

 of some pineapples, which drew from them more gut- 

 tural sounds of content. The pineapples disappeared 

 quickly. They ate at least ten each. Then they 

 rested and looked at one another. 



Before long, however, they became suspicious, and 

 moved away. I followed in their tracks, but, in my 

 eagerness to pursue them, I omitted to make marks 

 of any kind as I went along so that I could find my 

 way back. It was a great mistake. 



Twice I came within sight of the nginas, but inter- 



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