76 THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



trail up the hill between flowering aloes, euphorbia, and 

 dense briars and thorn. First it climbed a steep rocky 

 escarpment, then it ran perfectly straight and open for 

 three quarters of a mile. Because of the thorny 

 thicket no enemy could have progressed an inch ex- 

 cept on this road, which was visible and open for its 

 whole length. Next we came to a little round stock- 

 ade of heavy timbers, built square across the road, 

 perhaps ten feet in diameter. It had doorways lead- 

 ing in both directions, but timbers lay at hand by 

 which these openings could be closed. Then after 

 another interval we began to come to the houses, 

 perched all over the side hill. Even near at hand 

 their resemblance to the big gray boulders was most 

 deceiving, and at i8o yards Ciminghame and I had to 

 guess which was which. They proved to be circular, 

 thatched with gray grass in rounded roofs. Each en- 

 trance was fortified in miniature just like the gate. 



We bent double and entered the first one. It was 

 very dark and warm, but after our eyes had become 

 accustomed to the dimness we found we were calling 

 on a young lady, stark naked except for ornaments, 

 squatted before a tiny glow^ of coals over which she was 

 drying tobacco. Beds of skins were suspended at 

 right and left. New skin garments hung in the apex, 

 together with bundles of provisions, skins of beasts, 

 gourds, and such treasures. She seemed not at all 

 disturbed, and we nodded cheerfully and said a-a-a-a 



