RETURN TO CAMP. 143 



steaks in a similar position, and came to assist in cut- 

 ting out the tusks. 



It would have been a difficult thing, had I been given 

 the piece of elephant which was presently placed at 

 my disposal — of which, being very hungr}^, I partook — 

 and told I should have nothing else to eat till it was 

 finished, to say how long it would have taken me to 

 consume it. About a square inch cut off with my 

 hunting-knife employed me for fully half an hour, 

 and I don't think I ever succeeded in masticating any 

 portion of it properly. It was after sunset when we 

 left the carcass of the elephant, carrying his tusks 

 with us, and after crossing the river, my now worthy 

 guide informed me that we were to go home by a 

 shorter road. I was sorry, I said, for this, as on the 

 way here we had passed through one or two neat 

 Ajawah villages, where I had seen many Mangan- 

 ja women, who were doubtless slaves, either spin- 

 ning or weaving cotton, and as they had all been civil 

 as I passed through, I had hoped \o have been able 

 to procure some grub before reaching the boat. 

 " Oh !" said he, " there are villages this way too ;" 

 and so we went on. I was now carrying the gum- 

 tickler and the heavy Rigby 10, Moloka carrying two 

 other guns, and Chinsoro and the guide the tusks. 

 It was bright moonlight as we approached a large 

 village, and were challenged by several men who 

 stood close to a hut. A number turned out 

 armed with guns, &c., and I took up my position by 

 a large tree which happened to be close by at the 

 time. Moloka told them that I was an Englishman ; 

 but they said, " No ; you fellows have been fighting 



