DISCOVERY OF THE VICTORIA N'YAXZA. 17 



ample eaves, afforded us grateful shelter from the 

 blazing sun. A cow -skin was now spread, and a 

 wooden stool set for me, that I might assume a better 

 state than my suite, who were squatted in a circle 

 around me. With the usual precaution of African 

 nobles, the lady's-maid was first sent to introduce 

 herself an ugly halting creature, very dirtily garbed, 

 but possessing a smiling, contented face. Her kindly 

 mien induced me, starving and thirsty as I was after 

 my twelve miles' walk, to ask for eggs and milk 

 great luxuries, considering how long I had been de- 

 prived of them. They were soon procured, and 

 devoured with a voracity that must have astonished 

 the bystanders. The maid, now satisfied there was 

 nothing to fear, whether from ghost, goblin, or white 

 face, retired and brought her mistress, a short, stumpy 

 old dame, who had seen at least some sixty summers. 

 Her nose was short, squat, and flabby at the end, and 

 her eyes were bald of brows or lashes ; but still she 

 retained great energy of manner, and was blessed with 

 an ever-smiling face. The dress she wore consisted 

 of an old barsati, presented by some Arab merchant, 

 and was if anything dirtier than her maid's attire. 

 The large joints of all her fingers were bound up with 

 small copper wire, her legs staggered under an im- 

 mense accumulation of anklets made of brass wire 

 wound round elephant's tail or zebra's hair ; her arms 

 were decorated with huge solid brass rings, and from 

 other thin brass wire bracelets depended a great as- 



VOL. L B 



