THE LAST FRONTIER 



There were some exceptions: as the widower-bird, 

 dressed all in black, with long trailing wing-plumes 

 of which he seemed very proud; and the various sorts 

 of green pigeons and parrots. There were many 

 flowering shrubs and trees: and the air was laden 

 with perfume. Strange, too, it seemed to see tall 

 trees with leaves three or four feet long and half as 

 many wide. 



We were riding a mile or so ahead of the safari. 

 At first we were accompanied only by our gunbearers 

 and syces. Before long, however, we began to accu- 

 mulate a following. 



This consisted at first of a very wonderful young 

 man, probably a chiefs son. He carried a long 

 bright spear, wore a short sword thrust through a 

 girdle, had his hair done in three wrapped queues, 

 one over each temple and one behind, and was 

 generally brought to a high state of polish by means 

 of red earth and oil. About his knee he wore a little 

 bell that jingled pleasingly at every step. From one 

 shoulder hung a goat-skin cloak embroidered with 

 steel beads. A small package neatly done up in 

 leaves probably contained his lunch. He teetered 

 along with a mincing up and down step, every 

 movement, and the expression of his face display- 

 ing a fatuous self-satisfaction. When we looked 

 back again this youth had magically become two. 



228 



