AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



with a very long stride. Even steep hills they 

 struggle up somehow, zigzagging from one side of 

 the road to the other, edging along an inch or so at a 

 time. In such places I should infinitely have pre- 

 ferred to have walked, but that would have lost me 

 caste everywhere. There are limits even to a crazy 

 man's idiosyncrasies. For that reason I never 

 thoroughly enjoyed rickshaws; save along the level 

 ways with bells jingling and feet pat-patting a rapid 

 tune. Certainly I did not enjoy them going down 

 the steep hills. The boy between the shafts in front 

 hits the landscape about every forty feet. I do not 

 really object to sudden death; but this form of it 

 seemed unfair to some poor hungry lion. 



However the winding smooth roads among the 

 forested, shaded bungalows of the upper part of 

 town were very attractive, especially toward evening. 

 At that time the universal sun helmet or double 

 terai could be laid aside for straw hats, cloth caps, or 

 bare heads. People played the more violent games, 

 or strolled idly. At the hotel there was now a good 

 deal of foolish drinking; foolish, because in this 

 climate it is very bad for the human system, and 

 in these surroundings of much interest and excite- 

 ment the relief of its exaltation from monotony or 

 ennui or routine could hardly be required. 



124 



i| 



