A DANGEROUS OPERATION 



29 



seemed hours, till I heard the reeds rustling again, and looking 

 back saw that my enemy had returned to the swamp. I was 

 still trembling as I went along the path bordered by rushes, 

 when out started another buffalo disturbed in his siesta. He 

 stopped for a moment in astonishment, looked me over from 

 top to toe, and then, still gazing at me, slowly turned tail, and 

 went off. Once he stopped and looked round at me again, 

 and then slowly made his way with many a detour over the 

 gently ascending slope towards the bush in which I had left 

 my men with the dead buffalo. 



Fortunately I was now near the end of the swamp with its 

 very unpleasant surprises, and I reached the camp without 

 further incident. 



, The days spent with us were one continuous fete to the 

 caravan people, for they had not revelled in such plenty for 

 many a long day. On every side pots were simmering over 

 the fires, or great pieces of meat were roasting on little sticks. 

 And no sooner was a bit half done before some hand would 

 seize it, teeth would be fastened in it, and the underdone portion 

 would be suddenly cut of! close to the lips with a slash from a 

 knife, a dangerous operation enough, but I never saw anyone 

 hurt. Day and night the feasting went on, and a good many 

 men had eaten so much that they could scarcely move ; but 

 they think all this stuffing makes them extra strong. It is 

 thus that the negro lives, without giving a thought to the 

 future, and although this particular caravan had an eight days' 

 march before them without a chance of getting any more food, 

 it was all we could do after all to make them dry any meat to 

 take with them. Their stomachs were full now ; they did 

 not want to increase their loads, and their masters were too 

 indifferent and lazy to compel them to do so. Flogging is 

 never practised in the caravans frequenting these districts, and 

 the punishments for theft or desertion are marching in chains 



