* A TRAMP WITH REDSKINS.” 265 
to judge by their high spirits, was certainly shared by 
my Redskinned friends, who knew the country only as 
we know acountry which we have seen only on a map. 
Early that afternoon, having just crossed the brow ofa 
hill, we came upon a small plain, almost shut in by 
mountains, in the centre of which stood a large mud- 
walled leaf-thatched house. The sight was entirely 
unexpected; for none of our party had ever heard that 
there were people living in those parts, though, a quarter 
of an hour before, one of our party had fancied that he 
had seen a human figure just rise over the brow of the 
hill which we were at the moment approaching and then 
disappear. The house was however welcome ; for we had 
expected no better luck than to camp that night on the 
open savannah, over which so cold a wind almost con- 
tinuously blows, especially at night, that sleep, even for 
me, with plenty of wraps, was difficult, and was impossible 
for the naked Red folk. Not only was the shelter 
promised by this unexpeéted house welcome to us, but, 
it being still early in the afternoon, we should therehavean 
opportunity of drying any of the baggage into which the 
water of the Ireng might have penetrated. 
We were surprised to find no people or living thing of 
any kind about the house, though the fires were burning 
as usual and fresh food was being cooked ; nor while we 
busied ourselves during the remaining hours of daylight 
in unpacking and drying our goods was there any sign of 
the return of the inhabitants. It was as though in some 
of the old fairy tales we had lighted in some most un- 
expected place on a house furnished with all necessary 
comforts and all luxuries that the heart could desire but 
without a sign of an owner. 
