Chap. VIII. NIGHT ARRANGEMENTS OF THE CAMP. 175 



the notch at right angles ; the upright wand is made to spin 

 rapidly backwards and forwards between the palms of the 

 hands, drill fashion, and at the same time is pressed 

 downwards ; the friction, in the course of a minute or so, 

 ignites portions of the pith of the notched stick, which, 

 rolling over like live charcoal on to the knife-blade, are 

 lifted into a handful of fine dry grass, and carefully blown, 

 by waving backwards and forwards in the air. It is hard 

 work for the hands to procure fire by this process, as the 

 vigorous drilling and downward pressure requisite soon 

 blister soft palms. 



Having now entered a country where lions were numerous, 

 our men began to pay greater attention to the arrangements 

 of the camp at night. As they are accustomed to do with 

 their Chiefs, they place the white men in the centre ; Kan- 

 yata, his men, and the two donkeys, camp on our right ; 

 Tuba Mokoro's party of Bashubia are in front, Masakasa, 

 and Sininyane's body of Batoka, on the left, and in the rear 

 six Tette men have their fires. In placing their fires they 

 are careful to put them where the smoke will not blow in 

 our faces. Soon after we halt, the spot for the English is 

 selected, and all regulate their places accordingly, and 

 deposit their burdens. The men take it by turns to cut 

 some of the tall dry grass, and spread it for our 'beds on a 

 spot, either naturally level, or smoothed by the hoe ; some, 

 appointed to carry our bedding, then bring our rugs and 

 karosses, and place the three rugs in a row on the grass; 

 Dr. Livingstone's being in the middle, Dr. Kirk's on the right, 

 and Charles Livingstone's on the left. Our bags, rifles, and 

 revolvers are carefully placed at our heads, and a fire 

 made near our feet. We have no tent nor covering of 

 any kind except the branches of the tree under which we 



