AN IMPRESSIVE INTERVIEW. 275 



cellent. Instead of flights of locusts visiting a 

 locality in this part of the earth being looked upon 

 as a misfortune, exactly the reverse is the case. But 

 it has one disadvantage, for it causes to assemble in 

 its proximity all the beasts of prey as well as 

 reptiles. I have no doubt but that after a protracted 

 meat diet this change of food is very wholesome, for 

 it acts as a general laxative upon the system. 



The cry in camp next day was for more flesh. 

 Fancy two giraffes disappearing in two days. Of 

 course my people did not eat it all, but were very 

 considerably helped by the strangers on whose 

 ground the game was killed. Even taking that into 

 consideration, a visitor would have thought that all 

 were amply provided with food for a week ; but the 

 fact is that the natives are such gormandizers, that 

 they think nothing of stowing away six or seven 

 pounds of flesh at a sitting. Of course these length- 

 ened orgies generally take place during the dark 

 hours, and are rather an advantage than otherwise to 

 the traveller, for they necessitate good fires being kept 

 up, so he may with considerable confidence in the 

 security of his beasts retire to his waggon, his mind 

 at rest and body comforted with anticipations of a 

 good night's rest. 



But my people, and the strangers that were per- 

 mitted to remain with them, did not spend the night 

 so unprofitably for me as might have been expected. 

 Far from it, for they settled, during their late sit- 

 ting, all the details of a drive, which would entail 

 upon them a lot of work, and to a certain extent 

 permit me to be little more than a simple looker 

 on. 



On turning out at dawn, William and the Massara 

 approached me. Their countenances were grave, and 

 their manner stamped with heavy importance. On 

 my taking my seat, they requested permission to speak. 

 I in turn ordered them to be seated, looking all the 



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