CHAPTER XII. 



A LETTER FEOM THE NIGER. 



OTHING was too good for us in the eyes of 

 the priest, who felt that he owed us much for 

 the defence of his religious authority, and he 

 set his parishioners the example by placing everything 

 he owned at our disposal. Rice, tobacco, tea, and spices 

 were offered us ad libitum, and every house seemed to 

 wish the honor of lodging us. 



Declining what we could without hurting their feel- 

 ings, we lived partly on these delicacies, and partly on 

 our own good stores, and continued on our way farther 

 inland ; for my hunting passion — like the tiger's thirst 

 for blood — had been whetted by the night's adventure, 

 and I longed for another sight of this terrible wild beast. 

 Before night I reached the home of a powerful rajah 

 whom I had before visited, and whose hospitality I had 

 been able, in slight way, to repay. He welcomed me 

 with the pomp of an Oriental reception. An army of 

 servants was immediately placed at my orders, and a 

 state hunt appointed for the next day. These gala cere- 

 monies are always offered to strangers whom the Indians 

 wish to honor, however short their visit may be. 



