AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



peared again the beasts with which we had grown 

 so familiar during our long months in the jungle. So 

 remarkable was the number of species that we both 

 began to comment upon the fact, to greet the 

 animals, to say them farewell, as though they were 

 reporting orderly from the jungle to bid us godspeed. 

 Half in earnest we waved our hands to them and 

 shouted our greetings to them in the native punda 

 milia, kongoni, pa-a, fice, m'pofu, twiga, simba, 

 n'grooui, and the rest. Before our eyes the misty 

 ranges hardened and stiffened under the fierce sun. 

 Our men marched steadily, cheerfully, beating their 

 loads in rhythm with their safari sticks, crooning 

 under their breaths and occasionally breaking into 

 full-voiced chant. They were glad to be back from 

 the long safari, back from across the Thirst, from 

 the high, cold country, from the dangers and discom- 

 forts of the unknown. We rode a little wistfully, 

 for these great plains and mysterious jungles, 

 these populous, dangerous, many-voiced nights, 

 these flaming, splendid dawnings and day-falls, these 

 fierce, shimmering noons we were to know no more. 

 Two days we had in Nairobi before going to the 

 coast. There we paid off and dismissed our men, 

 giving them presents according to the length and 

 faithfulness of their service. They took them and 

 departed, eagerly, as was natural, to the families and 



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