AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



with a tall palm in the centre of it and the gathering 

 of a multitude of people. A muzzein was clambering 

 into a high scaffold built of poles, whence shortly he 

 began to intone a long-drawn-out ^' Allah I Allah! il 

 Allah I '^ The coconut palms cut the sunset, and 

 the boabab trees — the fat, lazy boababs — looked 

 more monstrous than ever. We called our guide 

 and conferred on him the munificient sum of sixteen 

 and a half cents; with which, apparently much 

 pleased, he departed. Then slowly we wandered 

 back to the hotel. 



74 



