140 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



in which rough black marks would inevitably appear 

 where chips had come out. They would add to the 

 ordinary disinclination to eat that overtakes most 

 people in a hot climate, where abstinence is dangerous. 

 Delicious tempting morsels are more needed in Africa 

 than by invalids at home. 



It took me four or five months to realise how right 

 he was. By then I had got to loathe my enamel 

 toilet basin with an increasing hatred, and a nice fresh 

 china one was the luxury I valued most on my return 

 to civilisation. 



Captain Facon provided us with many extras for 

 our dinner-parties, and it was Situ's duty to see that 

 they were returned. On one occasion their owner 

 came round to say that everything else had come but 

 not a coffee-grinder. "We sent for Situ and asked the 

 reason why. Situ looked mysterious and much 

 troubled. Then he drew Mr Talbot aside and mur- 

 mured in his ear that he thought it would be useful 

 for us to keep it. We quite agreed with him, but 

 pointed out that the reflection, though a just one, was 

 not morally possible. 



A good and faithful "boy" will often collect little 

 extras for his master that he thinks might come in 

 useful — a shirt here, some cigarettes there, or any 

 other oddment. 



Captain Facon gave us a pretty little harnessed 

 antelope, but, alas ! it had been taken too young from 

 its mother, and it died. Then a tiny kob came. It 

 was small, of dark mouse colouring, and with tender 

 brown eyes. It was friendly, and we readily fell 

 victim to its graceful movements and pretty ways ; 



