62 



FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



intervals as on former nights in answer to the cry of the 

 Hon. 



Next morning we awoke to find the day drenched in 

 torrential rains, which was unfortunate for the drying of 



RIVER SI.MANKA 



the lion's skin, the hair of which had already begun to slip 

 in places. I was kept a prisoner in my tent until about 

 eleven o'clock, when the skies rolled up and gave forth 

 intervals of sun. So I decided to strike camp and make 

 my way back to Mutumbiu. To give the lion's skin every 

 chance of drying, a wooden frame was made, on which the 

 skin was stretched and carried on the heads of two of the 

 " boys," so that it might receive all assistance from the sun. 

 I went ahead of the " boys " as was my usual custom, in order 

 to make detours into the bush for birds, returning to pick up 

 the column along the road. 



