374 AFRICA SPEAKS 



Rliino Horn Tree, because of the short protrusions 

 resembling miniature horns which covered the trunks, 

 reminding me of the weapons sported by the great 

 pachyderms of the thorn thickets. 



The kindly French Commandant gave us a comfort- 

 able bungalow in which to live. It was surrounded by 

 a garden containing many rare and wonderful tropical 

 trees. A high wall inclosed this entire estabhshment, 

 which had been the Commandant's residence until a 

 short time previously, when a new and more preten- 

 tious place was provided. 



Across the avenue stood the large native hospital 

 where a young Russian doctor, now serving under the 

 French flag, did his best to check the avalanche of 

 disease that ever flowed toward his gates. On the day 

 following our occupancy of the bungalow, I was seated 

 on the broad veranda pounding on my trusty type- 

 writer when I noticed four husky black men, bearing 

 a crudely made Htter, enter the doorway to the hos- 

 pital. Behind them walked other boys carrying on 

 top of their heads a white man's kit. CalUng to our 

 pishi, Ali, whose knowledge of Arabic was now serv^ing 

 us weU, I strolled over and watched as the ebon male 

 nurses lifted from the htter what had once been a 

 robust Frenchman, but who was now only folds of 

 yellowish skin over protruding bones. An intense 

 black beard and deep-sunken eyes gave this man an 

 unearthly appearance, but the suffering that liis thin 

 body and burning eyes bespoke is impossible to de- 

 scribe. The doctor injected quinine; then, although 

 very weak from the fever, the Frenchman attempted 

 to tell us of his adventures, but the Russian would 

 not £dlow it. 



