THE RAINY SEASON 



charming wife, I start again on the morrow, and the 

 following day arrive at Guengere for breakfast. I 

 find all in confusion ; the Pungwe, having risen one- 

 and-twenty feet in a few hours, has demolished the 

 sties and swept away a score of pigs which there was 

 no time to save. 



Thus ended this trip to the mountains of the Goron- 

 goza ; it was difficult, but extremely fruitful in 

 geographical results. 



My first care on arriving at Guengere" is to confer a 

 substantial reward on the volunteer of the name of 

 Mecque who had saved my life j I add that he can stay 

 with me as long as he pleases at a regular wage. He 

 replies with enthusiasm that he will stay with me 

 always. I was touched with his protestation of 

 devotion; but I was wrong. Two days later, as it 

 happened, having a letter to despatch to Commandant 

 Bivar, I summon Mecque and instruct him to be ready 

 to start the following morning. " Alone ? " he replies. 

 "Yes, certainly," I answer; "it is impossible that a 

 hero like you can be afraid." In the morning I call 

 my faithful servitor ; no one answers. I enquire, 

 and his comrades inform me that he has fled during 

 the night, never to return. This is one example out 

 of a thousand of Kafir character. 



The day after my return I am about to rest myself, 

 when a Kafir rushes in to say that a goat is just being 

 seized by a python. I repair hastily to the spot 

 indicated and perceive the reptile, which is certainly 



(93) 



