THE OKAVANGO RIVER 53 



in the direction to which I appeared to be throwing 

 the coveted garment. The laughter that followed 

 when they found the trousers had not really left 

 my hands was, if disappointed, quite good- 

 natured. 



Another day, having shot a sassaby, I fastened 

 the horns (which I had chopped off) under the 

 bridle on the mule's forehead, leading her back 

 to camp with this unnatural growth. This, too, 

 seemed to tickle the camp followers as something 

 particularly funny. 



A third instance : Amongst my boys there was 

 a harmless lunatic. Mafoota, on a visit, caused 

 considerable laughter by saying, M I notice your 

 staff now consists of three men and one baboon." 



I confess to a liking for these savages who have 

 never yet been spoilt by civilisation and are still 

 really children in most ways. What a happy 

 disposition they have, and how few things seem to 

 worry them ! After all, the savage is fairly near 

 the surface in all of us, and primitive instincts are 

 still the basis of everyday life. Who is there that 

 does not like honey ? Does a woman ever look 

 better than when she is wearing furs ? I have 

 read of a multi-millionaire who, when asked at 

 the end of an interview by a reporter, " Now, Mr. 

 So-and-so, may I ask you what you find your 

 greatest personal pleasure ? " replied, " To sit in 

 front of the fire in my bedroom with my clothes 

 off." Anyone who has knocked about the world, 

 enjoying the good times and enduring the hard, 



