HOW WE CURED THE CHIEF 



in spite of the " face trimmings " called forth many 

 arguments, and my long hair, which then hung down 

 on my neck, caused great admiration and surprise. 



I was astonished to notice the sudden change of 

 features as I passed from the regions of the upper Nile to 

 the country west of Faradje and towards Amadis. The 

 Mangbettu seem to have an Arabic strain in them, for 

 they have longer and more shapely noses than are found 

 among most other tribes. Their skin is of a lighter hue, 

 but for muscular development in my opinion they occupy 

 a secondary place to the natives around Lake Albert. I 

 would not say for a moment that this detracts from 

 their powers of endurance nor does it affect their capabili- 

 ties in dealing with the surrounding tribes who are con- 

 stantly in dread of the possibility of a raid from these 

 people. Unlike most of the natives in Central Africa 

 they are possessed of a keen intellect, and one rarely 

 fails to elicit an intelligent reply to a straightforward 

 question, very different from the absurd and senseless 

 rigmarole of the ordinary native who will deliver a long 

 speech for many minutes on end, at the conclusion of 

 which you are rarely any wiser than before. 



Of course as regards elephants they will at once say 

 there are plenty, all will agree on this point, and they 

 crowd round you in numbers declaring that they saw 

 them only the night before, and all sorts of other lies, 

 for they are only too glad, in exchange for beads, wire 

 and what not, to march you out in search of elephants 

 which they know are not anywhere near. I have been 

 deceived once or twice like this. After you have tramped 

 for an hour or two from the village the excited natives, 

 who have exercised an enormous amount of will power, 

 for them, in keeping their mouths shut, except for hurried 

 whispering, will crouch down with heads raised and 

 beckon to you. " At last ! " you say to yourself, " I 

 have reached the elephant grounds," but when it turn? 



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