238 After Big Game in Central Africa 



minute questions about this animal. The whole 

 population of the village having assembled to look at 

 us, he began : 



" Its height ? . About his size ! " And he 



o 



points out a ten-year-old child, who, seeing the 

 gesture, and doubtless imagining that he is pointed 

 out as suitable for roasting for my dinner, immediately 

 takes to his heels. 



" Its nose ? . . . Like that ! " He points out a 

 baby which has no nose yet worth speaking of, which 

 is in its mother's arms. The woman flees in terror, 

 pressing her child to her bosom. 



" Its beard "? . . . Like that ! " pointing out that 

 of an old man who wears a thin beard. The old 

 fellow smiles good-naturedly. 



" Its stomach ? . . . Like that ! " and he almost 

 touches the paunch of an old woman of dropsical ap- 

 pearance, who has no fear, but continues looking at him 

 angrily, as much as to say, " Well ! and what then ? " 



"Its face? . . . White as 'bwana's'" (master's), 

 and all the natives in their turn burst out laughing, 

 delighted with this comparison, which concerns me 

 alone. The dropsical old woman finds this very 

 funny, and a hearty laugh shakes her paunch, creased 

 in accordion fashion, whilst from her half- open, 

 toothless mouth come convulsive " Ha ! ha ! hahs ! " 

 Every one is delighted, and retires to reflect on this 

 comparative dissertation on the soko, while I eat 

 some bananas, which they give to me to furnish one 

 more point of resemblance between the monkey and 

 myself. 



