xxix THROUGH THE MERU COUNTRY 355 



hospitably inclined. They seemed very suspicious of 

 the safari, and paid no attention to his orders, so that 

 we got practically nothing here in fact, the only good 

 thing that Pymwezu did was to bring us a basketful 

 of most delicious tomatoes, which was the greatest 

 possible treat he could have given us after our long 

 and much-felt lack of fresh fruit and vegetables. 

 I was so anxious to make these last as long as 

 possible, that I gave them into the special charge 

 of my most reliable donkey-boy. I was much sur- 

 prised, therefore, when I did not see them on the 

 table next day, and on asking Paul the cook where 

 they were, he calmly told me that there were none. 

 "But," I said, "I gave the donkey- boy a basketful 

 this morning." "Ndio" answered honest Paul, 

 "lakini shauri ya Hamesi" ("Yes, but Hamesi 

 knows all about it"). I called up the donkey-boy, 

 and asked him what he had done with them, when 

 he gravely informed me that while he was busy 

 repacking a load a donkey had eaten them ! I 

 remarked that I greatly feared the donkey in ques- 

 tion was a two-legged one whereupon the rogue 

 hung his head. Such are some of the little 

 trials and tribulations to be expected on safari, but 

 when one gets to know the character of the 

 native, one can sympathize with these children 

 of the wilds, and even smile at the want of 

 ingenuity which they display when they wish to 



