A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



Mission. He was a first-rate servant, a good cook, 

 and an excellent bread maker, one of the most 

 important qualifications of a travelling cook. He 

 made his own yeast from dried hops, and baked 

 the bread between two enamelled pie-dishes, with fire 

 above and below. A quick walker, he was always 

 well in front of the caravan, wearing a picturesque 

 costume consisting of an indigo blue dotee or loin 

 cloth, rather long, a white jersey, and a reddish 

 brown felt hat, which he wore at the back of his 

 head. He spoke very fair English and was a 

 friend of John's, with whom he had previously 

 served in North- East Rhodesia. 



As a personal servant we took Edward, a negro 

 who travelled up from Chinde with one of our 

 fellow-passengers. He was a big, clumsy fellow, 

 who meant well and could cook a little, but had 

 not sufficient training to be a good personal servant. 

 He could say ''Yes, Master," very nicely, and would 

 shed floods of tears and express the deepest con- 

 trition if reproved, but of his duties he knew very 

 little, and was, in addition, very soft ; many good 

 points of his native character had, as is sometimes 

 the case, been obscured by his contact with 

 civilization. 



As cook's mate we engaged a lad, who only 

 went with us as far as Manga. Why he departed 

 I do not know — probably " Cooky " disapproved of 

 him. A porter whom we christened '* Breeches," 

 from the fact that his principal garment was a 

 smartly-cut pair of " Bedford cords," took his place 

 — an excellent fellow, who followed us to Broken 



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