12 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



to the shooting I must still give a few lines about the 

 thatching of the roof. If the grass is wanted very clean it 

 is possible to comb it out on a kind of large hackle, but 

 more than half of it will disappear in doing this, as it is 

 full of short fibre. 



So as to have the interior nice, I got about twenty-five 

 bundles of sicaira grass, which is naturally clean, of a pale 

 yellow colour, and very strong and long. This I put on 

 under the ordinary grass and it prevented short stalks and 

 grass seeds from falling into the hut. The grass here usually 

 seeds about May or June, so it is best, if it is full of seeds, to 

 leave it lying for a few days in the sun and then shake it 

 Well, to get rid of the thousands of sharp seeds, which are 

 very disagreeable if they fall on one's blankets, clothes, or 

 into the food. 



It is most interesting superintending such work, and if 

 the natives are stupid or aggravating it is best to be patient 

 and try to teach them. The climate often makes Europeans 

 most irritable, and the intensely aggravating qualities of 

 some natives make it very hard for a man to keep his 

 temper, especially if he be of a quick, sensitive, and 

 energetic nature. If a native gets more than one order at 

 a time he will only remember the last. A white man, if he 

 is asked to do three things, usually does them in the order 

 named ; not so a native, for he would likely forget the two 

 former orders, and possibly the last, too, as he would get 

 hopelessly muddled. 



I think all young men who intend to live in a wild 

 country should have some knowledge of the following 

 subjects : 



I. Gunnery shooting with rifle and gun. 



2. Zoology and taxidermy. 



3. Mechanics, including motor and ordinary cycle repairing. 



4. Carpentry and wood work. 



5. House building, brick making, and some knowledge of 



surveying. 



6. Horses, riding, and some knowledge of veterinary work. 

 7. Stock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. 

 8. Medicine and rough surgery. 



