258 AFRICA SPEAKS 



not we had escaped its dread clutches until many 

 days later. Once at the mine, it took two days to 

 make necessary rep£iirs before Ted could get under 

 way for Nairobi. 



On the night of March fourth, a big event took place 

 on the plains of the Serengetti. The first banquet 

 ever given in this part of the world was held under the 

 stars, attended by the largest group of white people 

 ever gathered together in the game country of Tan- 

 ganyika. Seventeen sat down to dine at the long 

 table, the party consisting of the Lieurances, who 

 had returned for a short visit, accompanied by their 

 wives; Major Warwick, who had driven from the 

 mine to join us, and the members of my safari. The 

 menu included native products, although most every- 

 thing came out of cans. For a cabaret we had hyenas 

 and jackals, howhng as if they objected to being left 

 out in the darkness, and beyond the hills hons grunted 

 to remind us that this was still their domain. 



Three nights later, the Lieurances invited us to their 

 camp for a return banquet. A feature of the affair 

 was the menu card which Barney drew by hand. 

 While the courses were being served, I arranged the 

 8 X 10 camera, and with a crudely rigged apparatus, 

 endeavored to make a flashlight photograph of the 

 group. Having no caps to ignite the powder, we 

 used some movie film for the purpose. After all was 

 set, I opened the shutter, Jones fit the film and we 

 both rushed to get into the picture. We aU stood or 

 sat tensely waiting as the fire graduaUy approached 

 the powder and just before it reached the pan, every- 

 one set his teeth and batted his eyes — then the fight 

 went out! This was repeated several times, until we 



