212 



UNDER THE AFRICAN SUN 



several kraals or villages for them. He certainly had a good 

 number of babies. There was one in particular, which I wanted 

 to photograph in the sling on its mother's back, because the 

 mother had decorated the child's leathern receptacle w4th long 

 streamers which looked very picturesque and reminded me of 

 young English mothers decking their baby's cot with bright- 

 coloured ribbons and lace. Photographers in England could 

 not get on without mothers who want their children to be 



photographed. But this African mother was terrified for her 

 baby's life, in presence of the w^hite medicine-man's mysterious 

 camera ; she fled, and hid herself and her baby. 



Tukwenda, too, made diligent inquiry amongst my men to 

 know, if my magic was likely to have any injurious effects upon 

 his own life ; whereupon my boys assured him that it would 

 produce untold blessings. I sincerely hope he has not been 

 visited by famine, pestilence, or hostile slave-hunters since I left, 

 or the next European calling on him with a camera might 

 receive anything but a friendly welcome. 



Both at Kibero and JSIahaji I saw but few water-fowl, but at 

 Tukwenda's there were a good many. The very day I arrived, 

 as my boat drew near the landing-place, I bowled over two wild 



