UNCLE SAM'S IDEA OF SAFETY. 157 



but it will be as well for us all in future to have no re- 

 petition of such experience. One of the hippos shot by 

 Gumming yesterday, and another by Vivian this morn- 

 ing, have floated and given the camp plenty of occupa- 

 tion. On our way home Vivian and myself met, and 

 directly afterwards Essafi having found some ariel, we 

 each shot one to please him. Our kindness was dearly 

 rewarded, for some Arabs appearing on the scene a 

 feast was decided upon, and yesterday's performance 

 repeated, occasioning us considerable delay, Essafi 

 again brought some toasted slices of liver, and this proved 

 so agreeable to our palates that the culinary perform- 

 ance will probably be repeated next year in the High- 

 lands. 



Coke has had another escape from injury, though the 

 enemy was easily captured, for after bathing in the river 

 he found in the towel he was about to use a fine scorpion, 

 which he carefully brought back and transferred to my 

 1 cyanide ' bottle. This bottle is always kept at hand in 

 the tent, and any creeping thing introduced into it 

 rapidly succumbs to its noxious fumes. There are a great 

 number of scorpions here, but no one has as yet been 

 stung, and they are rarely seen unless looked for. A 

 sure find is under our boxes if they have not been moved 

 for a few days. 



