64 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA, 
it with eau-de-Cologne, and tenderly wiped the tears away. I 
looked up, surprised, and saw traces of deep emotion in her face. 
Now, here was a girl who had seen but for a short time the little 
refinements of life ; instinctively she accepted them, and delicately 
ministered her services ; and so it has continued. She was a Topsy 
until lately — the romp of the place ; but she now feels a responsible 
being, and guards like a dragon all things under her care. Her 
own particular goods and chattels are a source of occupation when 
not engaged for me. I gave her a box for her clothes, as also a 
work-box with its fittings. These are constantly tidied ; and as 
additions are made according to the improvement in her sewing, 
her possessions are becoming numerous. 
One day the untamed nature of the girl broke out. We went as 
usual for the early morning ride. Before starting, I had been 
eating some bread and jam; what I was unable to finish I gave to 
Halima. She, it seems, put this into a cupboard, and after a time, 
when her work was over, sat down to partake of it. Achmed, not 
aware that this forbidden fruit had been given to her, claimed a 
share, and attempted to snatch it from her. She fiew at him like 
a tigress, and on our return the battle was at its height. As we 
dismounted in the outer court, screams from our quarters were 
heard ; we hastened our steps, and in the rakuba we saw Halima 
held back by the cook, with whom she was struggling to get at 
Achmed. He was protected by some one or other, and blood was 
streaming down his cheek. Halima, not caring for our presence, 
plunged and tore like a maniac. Petherick tried to restrain her, 
but she screamed, I will have his blood ! I will not rest till I 
have bitten his ear.^^ She had already bitten his face. Words were 
of no use, so Petherick laid his stick across her shoulders, and away 
she flew to the garden, where she remained the whole day, rolling 
