302 ANTHROPOLOGY 



I suppose no European who had not been brought 

 up among them could possibly find game so quickly 

 and unerringly as his native gun-bearer, whilst 

 they can carry on a conversation over extraordinary 

 distances in so low a tone that the European ear 

 cannot possibly catch the words at all. It may be 

 that the singular state of perfection to which they 

 have developed these two senses may have had the 

 effect of reacting upon the organ of smell, which is 

 by no means so acute, a fact fraught with no httle 

 inconvenience, and even some suffering at times, to 

 the unfortunate European who may find himself 

 travelling in their midst. 



The men are extremely hardy, and capable of 

 supporting an amount of privation which probably 

 few other races could equal. They will cheerfully 

 undertake a journey of several days' duration, with 

 no other provisions than a few cobs of maize, or 

 a small bundle of millet. On rising in the morning 

 they do not eat as a rule, or, if they do, not more 

 than a mouthful or two of some cold remains from 

 the previous night's repast. At midday they 

 enjoy a moderately full meal, but at night, soon 

 after sunset, they eat in very large quantities, and, 

 if meat form any part of the fare provided, will 

 consume immoderate amounts without prejudicial 

 result. On the other hand, they can subsist for 

 days on a very slender food allowance, so long as 

 a sufficiency of water be assured, as, apparently, 

 want of water is a privation which is much more 

 severely felt than lack of food. 



On many occasions, in this and neighbouring 

 parts of Africa, I have undertaken journeys necessi- 



