CHAPTER III 



HOW I GOT DRUNK 



Long years ago, when I was a youth, I was out upon the 

 veld at the foot of the great mountains of Basutoland with 

 a few chums, searching for a special kind of sweet bulb 

 which grew only in the moist and fertile lowlands. We 

 wandered rather far, for we feared no danger, but it seems 

 two Basuto hunters were abroad, mounted upon wiry sure- 

 footed ponies. They gave chase, and overtook us. The 

 dogs pummelled and nearly worried us to death. When 

 we were exhausted, the Basuto men trussed us up like fowls 

 about to be roasted, bound filthy rags round our jaws to 

 prevent us biting, and rode off with us. After many 

 adventures amongst the white humanfolk to whom I was 

 eventually sold, I became the property of the captain of a 

 steamship, which carried cargo. At first I felt ill and 

 wretched. My head would get giddy, and a strange feeling 

 would creep all over me, which made me loathe even the 

 daintiest food. The sailors were very kind to me. I was 

 a great pet. Every day when they were off duty they would 

 come and amuse me. They never were unkind. I love 

 those sailors. Seeing me so sick, one of them brought 

 something in a mug. I was intensely thirsty, and drank 

 some of it. I didn't like it at first, but I soon got very 

 fond of it. The sailors called it beer. One day a sailor 

 friend gave me some stuff they called rum. It was sweetened 

 with sugar. I took a sip, but I was suspicious, so I waited 

 to see what effect it would have, for I still had that ever- 

 watchful feeling which all our tribe possess, which makes 



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