AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



swaggered away to the Hindu quarters, where, it 

 seems, he kept his residence. 



About ten o'clock a small safari marched in afoot. 

 It had travelled all of two nights across the Thirst, 

 and was glad to get there. The single white man 

 in charge had been three years alone among the 

 natives near Kilimanjaro, and he was now out for 

 a six months' vacation at home. Two natives in 

 the uniform of Soudanese troops hovered near him 

 very sorrowful. He splashed into the water of the 

 dak-bungalow, and then introduced himself. We 

 sat in teakwood easy chairs and talked all day. He 

 was a most interesting, likable and cordial man, 

 at any stage of the game. The game, by means 

 of French vermouth — of all drinks! — progressed 

 steadily. We could hardly blame him for celebrat- 

 ing. By afternoon he wanted to give things away. 

 So insistent was he that F. finally accepted an ebony 

 walking staff, and I an ebony knife inset with ivory. 

 If we had been the least bit unscrupulous, I am 

 afraid the relatives at home would have missed 

 their African souvenirs. He went out via freight 

 car, all by himself, seated regally in a steamer chair 

 between both wide-open side doors, one sorrowful 

 native squatted on either side to see that he did not 

 lurch out into the landscape. 



198 



