xxvin WE REACH THE MERU COUNTRY 351 



by a monotonous chant which was weirdly interrupted 

 now and then by the beating of the war drum, or 

 the savage yell of an excited warrior. 



"DECKED our IN ALL THE FINERY OF THE MERU BELLES." 



The festivities were kept up throughout the day, 

 nor did they cease at nightfall, as, while I lay awake, 

 far into the night, I could plainly hear the fiendish 

 sounds of the heathen revelry. 



