IN THE JUNGLE 



in. They were evil-looking savages. To them we 

 paid not the slightest attention, but went about our 

 usual business as though they did not exist. At the 

 end of an hour they of their own initiative greeted 

 us. We did not hear them. Half an hour later they 

 disappeared, to return after an interval, followed by 

 a string of young men bearing firewood. Evidently 

 our bearing had impressed them, as we had intended. 

 We then unbent far enough to recognize them, car- 

 ried on a formal conversation for a few moments, 

 gave them adequate presents and dismissed them. 

 Then we ordered the askaris to clear camp and to 

 keep it clear. No women had appeared. Even 

 the gifts of firewood had been carried by men, a 

 most unusual proceeding. 



As soon as dark fell the drums began roaring in 

 the forest all about our clearing, and the chanting to 

 rise. We instructed our men to shoot first and in- 

 quire afterward, if a shenzi so much as showed him- 

 self in the clearing. This was not as bad as it 

 sounded; the shenzi stood in no immediate danger. 

 Then we turned in to a sleep rather light and broken 

 by uncertainty. I do not think we were in any im- 

 mediate danger of a considered attack, for these 

 people were not openly hostile; but there was al- 

 ways a chance that the savages might by their drum 

 pounding and dancing work themselves into a 



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