THE SEFARI 47 



of the East can cook it, and since you eat rice twice a day, 

 that is something to begin on. 



My cook Peter was a friend of three years ago. I had 

 suffered at his hands and in consequence he had, on at 

 least one occasion, suffered at mine, or, rather, at the hands 

 of my official representative, the askari.* Peter knew he 

 deserved it, and so bore no grudge. Indeed, had I defrauded 

 him of his just dues, I should have fallen greatly in his 

 estimation. When he heard, therefore, that I had returned 

 to the country, he at once sought me out and begged for 

 his old job. His weak point, I well remembered, had been 

 his bread, and good, well baked, well raised, yeast bread 

 (not baking-flour abominations), is one of the few things 

 absolutely necessary to health. Many who do not know 

 Africa, nor realize that they are under the equator, eat 

 little rice, or fruit, or vegetables, and do eat large quantities 

 of the very stringy game meat which is the only flesh 

 usually obtainable. They are very likely to take trouble 

 home with them. I made immediate inquiries as to 

 whether Peter had been to a baking school. He assured 

 me he had, and that by now his productions were un- 

 rivalled. His poverty-stricken appearance certainly belied 

 his optimism, and I pointed this out to him. But he was 

 prodigal of excuses, said he had lost my "chits," and had been 

 out of a job for a long time. I sent him off under John's 

 charge to bake a loaf. While his guardian looked on to 

 make sure that he had no unfair assistance, and as the 

 result proved fairly satisfactory, I reengaged him. 



Little Peter was really not a bad cook, and he was quite 

 willing to learn, which is more than you can say about 

 all cooks, out of Africa as well as in it. His things, if he 

 was constantly looked after, improved. He made ad- 

 mirable soup. His curries were excellent. With the 

 aid of a mincing machine (make a note of this and always 



* When men have to be punished, the sefari askaris, superintended by the headman, inflict it. 



