346 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



of feeding from the same plate without differences arising. 

 And now Maifoni was cordially received into the family 

 circle by them without being required to undergo any term 

 of probation. Then there was a donkey and her foal, which 

 claimed a certain amount of notice from the interesting 

 fact that it was here with us that they elected to start sepa- 

 rate existences. Besides these, there were three other 

 donkeys, a few sheep, and last, but not least, six horses 

 belonging to the members of the party. Later on, when the 

 Kanembus got more used to us, a frequent and pretty sight 

 to be seen in the country surrounding the camp was the flocks 

 of sheep and goats, divided into little parties of about a 

 hundred, each under the lead of a shepherd boy and his 

 dog. The boy was always nude except for a skin slung 

 over the shoulder, and in his hand he carried a crook and 

 spears. He irresistibly reminded one of the shepherd 

 boy David, tending his father's flocks. Here, as in the East, 

 the shepherd is always with his herd, which gets to know him 

 and looks to him for succour and guidance in every step it 

 takes, ever following his lead and never requiring to be driven. 

 No doubt our presence was looked upon by the shepherds as 

 a protection against the Tubus, and perhaps it was gratitude 

 for this that made them bring us, unasked, a good supply of 

 milk, for which they did not want to be paid. 



Another pretty sight that one never got tired of watching 

 was the morning and evening flight of sand-grouse passing 

 over the camp to water at the Lake. There were hundreds 

 of them, and they flew very high in wedge-shape formations, 

 which, on reaching the shore-line, dropped like arrows into 

 the water. 



