CARAVAN LIFE 



31 



killed. I have come across some very fine trees destroyed in 

 this way. To the native it is incomprehensible that the European 

 traveller, who may never pass there again, should be solicitous 

 for the welfare of a mere tree, though it be a forest-king some 

 hundreds of years old. 



A common incident of caravan life is the friendly chief's 

 visit. H,e is usually accompanied by a crowd of followers. 

 Conversation is naturally rather limited ; but now and then it 

 may prove very interesting, as on the occasion depicted. This 



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A FRIENDLY CHIEF PAYS A CALL. 



chief, dwelling on the west shore of Lake Albert, had met 

 Casati, Emin Pasha, and other distinguished travellers ; and 

 he remembered when Emin Pasha's steamers plied on the lake. 

 Unless a native has had some intercourse with Europeans, and 

 has picked up Swahili which serves in Africa very much the 

 same purpose that French does in Europe, as an international 

 means of communication, interpreters are necessary ; some- 

 times several different interpreters are required. I remember, 

 at Hoima, using Swahili which had to be translated into Arabic 

 and re-translated into Wanyoro ; how much of the original idea 

 was correctly reproduced I should be afraid to say. On one 

 occasion I told mv boy to ask the village headman to sell me 



