THE LAST PHASE 249 



(songs) was heard right up to midnight. The 

 words of some of these songs were rather to the 

 point, and after hearing them sung in continual 

 repetition for many hours, I am not sure that I 

 did not begin to recognise some tune in them. 

 Such songs, however, are not conducive to sleep, 

 especially as the musical accompaniment consists 

 of the thumping of innumerable kerosene tins. 

 These are the words of three of their songs, as far 

 as I can roughly interpret the meaning. 



Song I 



The K.A.R. askaris 



Are fierce in fight ; 

 But go carefully, 



There are lions * in the bush. 



Song II 

 The big Bwanas a 



Stop away behind. 

 We others have fighting and hunger — 



What kind of business is this ? 



Song III 

 The Portuguese are no good, 



When they hear a shot they run ; 

 Nor will they stop 



Till they reach the sea. 



Leaving the main road to our north to avoid the 

 bustle, dust, and nuisance of other troops going 

 down, and travelling by native tracks, we arrived 

 at Pemba in another nine days. One had heard 



1 Germans. 



2 Higher rank base wallahs. 



