AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



veranda than in any other one place in the world. 

 The gathering is cosmopolitan; it is representative of 

 the most active of every social, political, and racial 

 element ; it has done things ; it contemplates vital prob- 

 lems from the vantage ground of experience. The talk 

 veers from pole to pole — and returns always to lions. 



Every little while a native — a raw savage — 

 comes along and takes up a stand just outside the 

 railing. He stands there mute and patient for five 

 minutes — a half hour — until some one, any one, 

 happens to notice him. 



"iV'yo/ — come herel" commands this person. 



The savage proffers a bit of paper on which is writ- 

 ten the name of the one with whom he has business. 



^^Nenda oficie!^^ indicates the charitable person 

 waving his hand toward the hotel office. Then, and 

 not until this permission has been given by some one, 

 dares the savage cross the threshold to do his errand. 



If the messenger happens to be a trained houseboy, 

 however, dressed in his uniform of khaki or his more 

 picturesque white robe and cap, he is privileged to 

 work out his own salvation. And behind the hotel 

 are rows and rows of other boys, each waiting 

 patiently the pleasure of his especial bzvana loung- 

 ing at ease after strenuous days. At the drawling 

 shout of "boyl" one of them instantly departs to 

 find out which particular boy is wanted. 



122 



I 



