64 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



emerges on the grass before the next ridge, and 

 stops to rest. The porters come up one by one, 

 throw down their loads with a bang, stretch their 

 necks, and then carefully scrape off the caked 

 tilth from their legs. After a few minutes they 

 begin to laugh and chaff the stragglers. When 

 all have appeared, one has to start the caravan, 

 climb the next ridge, and perhaps push on 

 through the sweltering heat, possibly through 

 another swamp, till two or three in the afternoon. 

 About twelve the weary spirit begins to long for 

 the sight of camp, and the happiest moment of 

 the day is, undoubtedly, when, though tired and 

 hungry, thirsty and footsore, you realise that, after 

 an interval, a cold bath and food will be ready. 

 To complete the experience of an average day, 

 some Mabruki, or Khamis, will have been stealing 

 from the Washinsi {i.e. savages), on whom the 

 Suahili looks down with immeasurable contempt ; 

 and a long trial is carried on chiefly in a language 

 of which your interpreter knows little, and which 

 he translates into Suahili, of which very possibly 

 you may know rather less. Then Mahamadi Wadi 

 Musa will come up with the whole of a toe-nail 

 torn away by a thorn, and you have to doctor 

 him. You discover one of your boxes has been 

 immersed during the day, and all the clothes will 

 have a border of black. Another box will have 

 been smashed against a tree, and you have to 

 hammer and nail it together. All this is in 



