AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



the depths of all the half-guessed shadows. In no 

 direction could one see unobstructed farther than 

 twenty feet, except straight up; and there one could 

 see just as far as the tops of the palms. It was 

 like being in a room; a green, hot, steamy, lovely 

 room. Very bright-coloured birds that ought really 

 to have been at home in their cages fluttered about. 



We had much vigorous clearing to do to make 

 room for our tents. By the time the job was 

 finished we were all pretty hot. Several of the boys 

 made vain attempts to climb for nuts; but without 

 success. We had brought them with us from the 

 interior where coconuts do not grow; and they did 

 not understand the method. They could swarm 

 up the tall slim stems all right; but could not manage 

 to get through the downward-pointing spikes of the 

 dead leaves. F. tried and failed, to the great amuse- 

 ment of the men; but to the greater amusement of 

 myself. I was a wise person, and lay on my back 

 on a canvas cot, so it was not much bother to look 

 up, and enjoyed life. Not to earn absolutely the 

 stigma of laziness, I tried to shoot some nuts down. 

 This did not work either, for the soft, spongy stems 

 closed around the bullet holes. Then a little 

 wizened monkey of a Swahili porter, having watched 

 our futile performances with interest, nonchalantly 

 swarmed up; in some mysterious manner wriggled 



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