272 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. 



stakes along that path in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood. Should any of these stakes penetrate his 

 foot, it would mean farewell to his hunting and his 

 women, whom he loved as only a hunter can, and 

 he was, he added, in no hurry to leave this enjoyable 

 world at present. 



Makakora, I may mention, had four wives, the 

 favourite among whom he pointed out to me on 

 several occasions. She was a Mwera woman, and 

 after the manner of most women of that tribe, wore 

 a large ivory ring in her upper lip, which caused 

 that lip to protrude in a most unsightly way, about 

 two inches at right angles to her face. 



' That is the one woman for me ! ' he used to say, 

 with pride. ' She is an excellent cook, makes the 

 best beer in the country, and works assiduously in 

 my garden. She is old, no doubt, while my other 

 wives are young, but my young wives do not count ; 

 for they are simply waiting for me to die so that 

 they may seek the arms of their younger lovers. 

 Fickleness is in their blood ; it is in the blood 

 of all young women. But their future husbands 

 are welcome to them I have had their early 

 love.' 



When on my way down to the coast, homeward 

 bound, on this last occasion, Makakora made a two 

 days' journey to bid me farewell, bringing along 

 with him two of his young wives, carrying food for 



