272 TEE CRUISE OF TEE " CACEALOT." 



Taking a huge knife from some hiding-place, Irene 

 handed it to her father, who at once commenced to dig 

 in the ground hy his side, while I looked on wondering 

 and amused. Presently he fished up a bundle of leaves 

 bound with a vine-tendril, which he laid carefully aside. 

 More digging brought to light a fine yam about three 

 pounds in weight, which, after carefully wiping the 

 knife on some leaves, he proceeded to peel. It was 

 immediately evident that the yam was perfectly cooked, 

 for it steamed as he removed the skin, revealing the 

 inside as white as milk. Some large, round leaves were 

 laid in front of me, and the yam placed upon them. 

 Then mine host turned his attention to the bundle first 

 unearthed, which concealed a chicken, so perfectly done 

 that, although the bones drew out of the meat as if it 

 had been jelly, it was full of juice and flavour; and 

 except for a slight foreign twang, referrible, doubtless, 

 to the leaves in which it had been enwrapped, I do not 

 think it could have been possible to cook anything in a 

 better way, or one more calculated to retain all the natural 

 juices of the meat. The fowl was laid beside the yam, 

 another nut broached ; then, handing me the big knife, 

 ray " flem " bade me welcome, informing me that I 

 saw my dinner. As nothing would induce him to join 

 me, the idea being contrary to his notions of respect due 

 to a guest, I was fain to fall to, and an excellent meal 

 I made. For dessert, a basketful of such oranges freshly 

 plucked as cannot be tasted under any other conditions, 

 iind crimson bananas, which upon being peeled looked 

 liked curved truncheons of golden jelly, after tasting 

 which I refused to touch anything else. 



A corn-cob cigarette closed the banquet. After ex- 

 pressing my thanks, I noticed that the pain of his leg 

 was giving my friend considerable uneasiness, which he 



