AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



modification is nearly always in the direction of the 

 comic. 



Now we step up to a class that would resent being 

 called shenzis as it would resent an insult. This is 

 the personal servant class. The members are of all 

 tribes, with possibly a slight preponderance of 

 Swahilis and Somalis. They are a very clean, well- 

 groomed, self-respecting class, with a great deal of 

 dignity and a great deal of pride in their bwanas. 

 Also they are exceedingly likely to degenerate unless 

 ruled with a firm hand and a wise head. Very rarely 

 are they dishonest as respects the possessions of 

 their own masters. They understand their work 

 perfectly, and the best of them get the equivalent 

 of from eight to ten dollars a month. Every white 

 individual has one or more of them; even the tiny 

 children with their ridiculous little sun helmets are 

 followed everywhere by a tall, solemn, white-robed 

 black. Their powers of divination approach the 

 uncanny. About the time you begin to think of 

 wanting something, and are making a first helpless 

 survey of a boyless landscape, your own servant 

 suddenly, mysteriously, and unobtrusively appears 

 from nowhere. Where he keeps himself, where he 

 feeds himself, where he sleeps you do not know. 

 These beautifully clean, trim, dignified people are 

 always a pleasant accent in the varied picture. 



132 



