" POSHO " 



previous night's experience. Only those who have made 

 a trip on Lake Albert and the Nile can picture the 

 marvellous effects one sees on a morning after heavy 

 rain. Everything is freshened up, the very fish jump 

 about in an ecstasy of joy. Quaint birds sing merrily 

 away high up in the clear blue sky. Shimmering mirages 

 dance on every side. A native dug-out — nought but a 

 tree trunk roughly hollowed out — is seen with its quaint 

 dark-skinned occupant, lazily manipulating a broad- 

 bladed paddle with which he sends the little craft skim- 

 ming over the water. 



Once in the river, we see on our right beautiful fresh 

 verdure with grand old trees from which hang a network 

 of monkey-ropes and creepers. Tall stately palms do- 

 minate the scrubby country, as they nod their heads in 

 the morning breeze. Native women and children, each 

 with an earthen vessel or a gourd balanced on her head, 

 emerge from the semi-darkness of the forest-like growth 

 on the right bank, and walk down the green slope to 

 the water's edge, where perhaps one or two canoes are 

 drawn up half out of the water. These people are naked 

 but for a platted grass apron around their waists, and a 

 string of beads at the neck. Large rings around which 

 the lobe of the ear is stretched dangle almost down to 

 their shoulders, pieces of grass or copper rings are 

 fastened through the lip or nose, while heavy wire 

 bangles encircle their arms and wrists. In their semi- 

 savage state they are happy, far, far happier than millions 

 of our own colour, for they are naturally a contented folk, 

 taking things as they come, and are not troubled by the 

 worries and cares of civilization. One day follows 

 another, years come and go. 



Here at night the hippopotamus roams crashing and 

 thundering through the tall grass. Frightened chattering 

 monkeys gaze down in horror from the trees on the 

 prowling leopard and scamper off in droves at the scent 



47 



