THROUGH FRENCH UBANGI 41 



varying, but large, percentage bad by the time they 

 are presented to the white man. 



It is customary for a chief to make a present — or 

 "dash" as it is called in pidgin English — to every 

 visitor, varying in amount according to his and their 

 importance, and of course he in return receives a still 

 larger gift from the white man. 



At Bipare the Chief, or Lamido as he should be 

 called, gave us a kid, eggs, and honey. The last is 

 always liquid in Africa, and often so ill-collected that 

 what consistency it has is due to the presence of bees' 

 bodies. Cookoo always prepared it for our consump- 

 tion, and even then it was often not fit to touch. 

 Honey that is not quite right has the same agonising 

 effect that pie - crust has when the steam has not 

 escaped. 



The next day's march again led us through highly 

 cultivated country, interspersed with stretches of 

 swamp. The trees were scattered and so stunted that 

 few attained the height of guinea-corn, and there was 

 a great deal of scrub mimosa. The flowers were in- 

 conspicuous, except for bright petunia - coloured con- 

 volvulus, which trailed over the ground in masses. 



Presently a forest of palms rose dark and austere 

 before us. and, away through their straight stems and 

 sombre leaves, the gay blue water of Lake Lere sparkled 

 and shone like some brilliant sapphire. The trees 

 were laden with fruit, but it was pithy, and the only 

 taste was the rather pleasant acidity of unripeness. 

 It is reputed to have a flavour like gingerbread, but 

 we were not lucky enough to come upon any that 

 resembled such a good thing either now or later. 



