HOW WE CURED THE CHIEF 



again for a second to watch our progress. On our 

 arrival a host of seemingly good-humoured people lent 

 willing hands to assist in my landing and escorted me 

 to a group of huts which stood back in the trees and 

 grass half a mile away. The spot was truly delightful 

 and boasted of a luxuriant array of oil palms, bread fruit, 

 wild pepper cane, and plantains. The village rested 

 under the shade of trees that hung over the conical grass 

 roofs in gorgeous profusion lending to the air a sweet 

 fragrant aroma. Many of the dwellings were long and 

 square and were covered with flat roofs. The women, 

 as I expected, all scuttled into the seclusion of their 

 huts and crooned to the children in their endeavours 

 to still the cries of the little ones whose attention had 

 been attracted by the unusual excitement and noise 

 that followed my unexpected appearance. In the village 

 itself the ground was void of grass and the dark reddish 

 well-trodden soil offered a fine contrast to the beautiful 

 sombre shades of green on the foliage around. Here and 

 there between the dwelling huts were erected the usual 

 small granaries raised on poles about four feet above 

 ground, queer little beehive-like structures of reed and 

 earth with a movable conical thatch roof under the eaves 

 of which here and there a native rested in the shade. 

 Dogs slunk around sniffing by the fires in search of food, 

 while the natives regarded me with open eyes and oily 

 beaming countenances. One fellow came forward and 

 shook hands. My boy, interpreting for me, informed 

 him that the white man had come far to seek elephants, 

 and was a friend ; on hearing this the chief showed his 

 misgivings by shaking his head and conducting an 

 animated conversation with some of his retinue who stood 

 by. Gazing around me I saw a group of men arranging 

 little strips of meat on sticks round a fire. I had an 

 uncomfortable feeling as to their origin, which was con- 

 firmed when I saw, on pieces of matting, a number of 



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