MAIFONI 251 



although I am practically recovered from the gastric attack 

 I mentioned in my last letter. All I've got to do now is to 

 feed up. . . . The doctor here, an excellent man, encourages 

 me to tipple a pint of champagne most nights. This I do i 

 the small hours by the time it has got icy cold. ... I am 

 in a splendid mud- walled and roofed house, cool as a cucumber. 

 We have three small leopard cubs and a gazelle always 

 playing about. The former are about the size of cats and are 

 the quaintest httle things imaginable. ..." 



Talbot got the cubs at Kwoiangia, from a man who had 

 taken them from a lair in the absence of their mother. They 

 were only a few days old and he brought them up by dipping 

 his finger in warm goat's milk and then letting them suck it. 

 Two of them died afterwards from the fatigue of constant 

 trekking, but the biggest and strongest, named Damessa 

 grew into a splendid creature. She was a most gentle and 

 affectionate animal and though she grew so tall that 

 when striding on her hind feet she could rest her fore 

 paws comfortably on a man's shoulders, she never showed 

 the shghtest sign of temper and whined pitifully if left 

 alone. 



In a letter, dated November 7, my brother wrote : 



" Bee has just turned up looking the picture of health. 

 He has walked every inch of the way from Loko to Graidam 

 on the Yo, making a very good collection through most 

 important country. It is very nice being all in touch again. 

 We feel now that the main part of our undertaking is 

 practically accomplished. A fairly extensive survey right 

 through the centre of North Nigeria, and forming a sort of 



