THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 199 



way up, like an old-fashioned summer house. I had 

 my ground sheet, bed, and box put in here, and I could 

 lie on my cot, fully protected from the sun, get all the 

 breeze, and watch the lights change and soften on the 

 ranges. The only objection to it as a camp-site was 

 the fact that the nearest water was about a mile dis- 

 tant; but that is usual with African villages. The 

 women have to carry it; and I suppose woman's time 

 is considered valueless. 



After what was to one in my condition a pretty hard 

 march, I did not feel a whole lot like social persiflage; 

 but that was part of the job. Therefore I propped my- 

 self up in my bed and gave Ali the signal to let in only 

 those in authority. They came, the elders of the 

 village, grizzled, dignified old men, followed by slaves 

 carrying offerings of eggs, milk, native flour, and pea- 

 nuts. They greeted me formally, and told me the 

 sultan had gone to walk around, but that word had 

 been sent that I had arrived. I opened a long shauri 

 for porters, giving my usual elaborate speech and 

 offering one rupee a head bonus for each man brought 

 to me who would do good cazi for a month. Then I 

 summoned Ali and had him serve them coffee in the 

 kitchen. 



About an hour later, while I was writing the log, a 

 small boy of about ten years old, dressed in a piece of 

 snow-white Mericani and wearing a tarboush, came 

 around. I glanced at him, said "hullo, toto,^^ and 



