MEN OF THE TREES 



of the white man, when the people of this village 

 fought with the people of that village yonder, when- 

 ever peace was made, it was made under the shade of 

 my branches." 



At this point the Chiefs looked up from the ebony 

 owl and eagerly questioned me. "Does the Bundi really 

 tell you all that? For all you say is true. Tell us more." 

 Because I was speaking what they knew to be true I 

 won their confidence and was enabled at this stage to 

 continue my forest instruction and drive home the 

 lesson. 



We talked long into the night, for they seemed loath 

 to part and ever anxious to hear more. Months later I 

 returned to find how well the story of the Bundi had 

 been learned, for without further supervision they had 

 voluntarily planted many Wembis in the abandoned 

 farms with lasting benefit to their country. 



98 



