32 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



qualities, but was withal moved to such touching 

 penitence on each occasion that he was found out, 

 and became so quick to gather the flowers that Mrs 

 Talbot wanted for her collection, that he remained 

 with us till we were nearly at our journey's end. 

 Then the sudden demise of his mother caused him 

 to return home with all speed, that he might take 

 his share of the worldly goods she had left behind 

 her. Jimba's besetting sin was conceit. He had 

 taken great trouble to go about from house to house 

 and bring back with him curios for our approval, 

 and Mr Talbot thouo;ht that he deserved a reward. 

 So did Jimba, and he pleaded for the present of an 

 old coat in which to make himself fine. European 

 clothes were valuable, so, though Mr Talbot granted 

 the request, it was with the stipulation that he 

 should demand it back were Jimba to weary in his 

 activities. For many days Jimba lorded it in that 

 coat, to the admiration and envy of all who beheld 

 him. Then we saw it rarely, and at last no more ; 

 and as his energy flagged in curio-hunting he was 

 sent for, and Mr Talbot asked to see the coat. It 

 was as he suspected : Jimba had first hired it out, 

 and now had sold it. 



Mrs Talbot and I had not realised that, because 

 they served us women, our horse-boys were accounted 

 lesser people than Aji, who served Mr Talbot. In fact, 

 so ignorant were we that, though I liked Moussa, I 

 exchanged him for Aji on the second day because Mr 

 Talbot thought it better that I, as an inexperienced 

 rider, should have a well-trained boy, which Aji was. 

 His misery was apparent at once : never have I seen 

 so dejected an attendant, and he was clever enough 



