DRUGS AND THEIR COST 67 
come out to help the natives, and when he left me he 
presented me with 20 francs for the medicine chest. 
Another patient presented my wife with a kiboko 
(or sjambok) of hippopotamus hide. It is made in this 
way : When a hippopotamus is killed, its hide, which 
is from | inch to i inch thick, is cut into strips about 
1 J inches wide and nearly 5 feet long. One end is nailed 
to a board, the strip is twisted into a spiral, and the 
other end is nailed down. When it is dry that supple, 
sharp - cornered, and justly dreaded instrument of 
torture is ready. 
* 
* * 
These last few weeks I have been busy stowing away 
the supply of drugs, etc., which arrived in October and 
November. The reserve stock we place in the small 
iron room on the hill, of which I have had the use since 
Mr. Ellenberger went away, and which the grateful 
uncle mentioned above has fitted with the necessary 
cupboards and shelves. It is true that they do not 
look handsome, being put together from cases and 
bearing still the addresses that were painted on them, 
but we have a place for everything ; that is the essential 
thing. In Africa we learn not to be too exacting. 
While I was worrying over the cost of these valuable 
supplies of medicines, bandages, and lint, the December 
mail brought me news of fresh gifts which made my 
heart lighter again. How can we thank sufficiently all 
our friends and acquaintances ? By the time anything 
comes to Lambarene it costs about three times its 
European price, and this increase is accounted for by 
the cost of packing, which must be very carefully done, 
of the railway journey, of shipping and unloading, of 
