A SAFARI AND WHAT IT IS 73 



porters get into the habit of carrying a certain load 

 and so there is usually little confusion in distribut- 

 ing the packs. 



Life and activity begin early in camp. You go 

 to bed early and before dawn you are awakened by 

 the singing of countless birds of many kinds. The 

 air is fresh and cool, and you draw your woolen 

 blankets a little closer around you. The tent is 

 closed, but through the little cracks you can see 

 that all is still dark. In a few moments a faint 

 grayness steals into the air, and off in the half dark- 

 ness you hear the Somali gunbearers chanting their 

 morning prayers soft, musical, and soothing. 

 Then there are more voices murmuring in the air 

 and the camp slowly awakens to life. Some one is 

 heard chopping wood, and by that time day breaks 

 with a crash. All is life, and the birds are singing 

 as though mad with the joy of life and sunshine. A 

 little later a shadowy figure appears by your cot 

 and says, rf Chai, bwana" which means, "Tea, mas- 

 ter." 



You turn over and slowly sip the hot tea, while 

 outside in the clear morning air the sound of voices 

 grows and grows until you know that eighty or a 

 hundred men are busy getting their breakfasts. 

 The crackling of many fires greets your ears and 

 the pungent smell of wood fires salutes your nos- 

 trils. You look at your watch and it is perhaps five 

 or half past. The air is still cold and you hasten to 

 slip out of your cot. It is never considered wise to 

 bathe in the morning here. 



