THE CARRIERS ON STRIKE 



and, so great is the power of the sun out there, it would 

 have been difficult to see that there had been more 

 than a mere shower. The damaged provisions were 

 almost the only proof. 



It was just after the downpour that another small 

 safari filed into our camp, going in the opposite 

 direction to that in which we were bound. As is the 

 way with natives, each party wanted to learn all about 

 the other. One of the first questions was naturally 

 as to our destination. (My boy Mahomed acted as 

 interpreter.) I answered that we intended to cross over 

 the Aberdare range, and make for a point two days' 

 trek beyond Nveri. The moment this had been 

 translated great excitement broke out, everybody 

 talking and shouting at once. 



I was not long in discovering the cause of this. 

 The safari, it appeared, had just come from that 

 district, and were full of blood-curdhng accounts of 

 the lions there. My carriers would not go with me, 

 Mahomed declared. When I urged that there were 

 lions everywhere he shook his head : these particular 

 lions were very bad ones, well-known man-eaters. The 

 boys were sorry to disappoint me, but would be more 

 sorry to be eaten. According to the other porters 

 a lion had actually stalked into the camp, picked up 

 a boy who was asleep inside one of the tents, and 

 walked off with him before anything could be done 

 to save him. My fellows were quite certain that 



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