IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



to a tribe living in the great forest, for he knows what 

 a nchogo is. In a barren or prairie country they have 

 no trees to make nchogos of. But we must treat our 

 prisoner gently, give him plenty of food to show him 

 that we care for him and that we are his friends. Then 

 in a few days, after he has got accustomed to us, we will 

 free him from the nchogo." 



That day we gave him three meals, and ate by his 

 side, and he saw that we had the same food. 



When evening came, I said : " Rogala, you will go 

 to sleep while I watch." 



Soon both Rogala and our prisoner were asleep. 

 Towards two o'clock I awoke Rogala for the watch 

 and went to sleep myself. 



In the morning I said : " Rogala, let us think over 

 and see if you and I have spoken to our prisoner all 

 the languages and dialects we know." 



So we began to think, and finally Rogala said : " I 

 did not speak to him in the Osheba language." 



" Why," said I, " do you think he is a cannibal ? " 



" Perhaps he is," he replied. 



Rogala spoke to him then in Osheba, and had ut- 

 tered but a few words when the man's face brightened 

 up, for he found that we should be able to understand 

 him. He was a cannibal. There was no doubt 

 about it. 



171 



