HARTEBEESTE AND WATER-BUCK 



fork up to my mouth they opened their mouths and made 

 a peculiar clicking noise with their tongues. My clothes 

 were discussed freely, and the colour of my hair, how 

 long it was and so forth. There was a scramble for the 

 bones which 1 threw away ; some of the people actually 

 placed them in their hair or tied them around their necks 

 with a piece of grass. When I blew on my whistle for 

 the syce to go and fetch the mule, there were great shouts 

 of delight. 



The mule had a small wound on its back, and when 

 I dressed this with vaseline the curious villagers swarmed 

 around with outstretched hands asking for some of the 

 " dawa." I gave some to one fellow, and he and two 

 others ate it with evident relish. 



Remembering that one of my shirts wanted repairing, 

 I went inside the hut for a needle and thread, whereupon 

 they all began to jabber and utter exclamations of sur- 

 prise, many of them roared with laughter at the sight of 

 me sewing with a needle and thread. The work that I 

 was engaged upon seemed to them so novel that they 

 stood and glared at me open-mouthed. My folding 

 scissors were most wonderful of all, for the whole crowd, 

 numbering by this time some two hundred, gathered 

 around me uttering loud ah ! ah ! ow ! ow ! accom- 

 panied by mouth clicking and much head shaking. The 

 women hastened to bring their children along to witness 

 the sight, and covetous glances were made at the shirt, 

 while the scissors held every one spellbound. In a few 

 minutes chickens galore were being offered in exchange 

 for them. They were prepared to sell all their possessions 

 for them. When I folded them up the excitement 

 reached its limit, some clapped their hands and slapped 

 their thighs yelling with astonishment, and long after 

 I had replaced the scissors in a small box wherein I kept 

 my sewing gear, they still hovered around staring at the 

 box, expecting to see the scissors appear again. Toddling 



79 



