122 NIGHT ARRANGEMENTS OF THE CAMP. CHAP. V. 



to spin rapidly backwards and forwards between the palms 

 of the bands, drill fasbion, and at tbe same time is pressed 

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

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

 rolling over like live charcoal on to tbe 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 accus- 

 tomed to do with their chiefs, they place the white men 

 in the centre ; Kanyata, 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 may happen to lie ; and it is a 

 pretty sight to look up and see every branch, leaf, and 

 twig of the tree stand out, reflected against the clear star- 

 spangled and moonlit sky. The stars of the first magni- 



