A CROWD OF NATIVES 
SI 
‘ My wife, my mother-in-law, my daughters — they never 
see white man ; they not believe him all white, but only 
face and hands ; they call me liar when I say all white. 
Show them, I beseech you, that I am no liar ; bare yourself 
— here twitching at my clothes — ‘ of this, and show them.’ 
I answered as politely as I could that it was not the 
custom to appear naked in public, and, bidding him good- 
evening, walked into my tent. It was some time before 
the old chap could be persuaded to clear out of the zareba. 
How I enjoyed my bath after the hot tramp in the sun ! 
On getting out and turning round, I perceived in the 
distance a crowd of women and children, hiding behind 
thorn-bushes, gazing intently upon me. So they were not 
disappointed, after all. 
Supper was soon afterwards served, and a very tempting 
one it was — antelope soup, hashed antelope, and roast 
guinea-fowl, washed down with whisky-and-water full of 
red sand. By this time the crowd, getting bolder, had 
again approached my zareba, and, peeping over the fence, 
watched me feeding with huge grins upon their ugly faces. 
I began to get quite nervous, and could scarcely find the 
way to my mouth, even prodding myself in the lips with 
my fork, which caused roars of laughter. They utterly 
refused to go away, in spite of the frequent cries of 
^ Scutter !’ (Go away !), and great brandishing of spears 
and rifles. 
After supper I went outside to superintend the tyiiig-up ■ 
of a goat as bait for a leopard about a yard from the thorn- 
fence. Upon my appearance outside, an enormous crowd 
collected round me, the more courageous stretching out 
their hands to feel my clothes. I noticed one poor thin 
deformed man amongst them who appeared to be very 
badly used and pushed about by his fellow -villagers. I 
asked who he was, and why he looked so thin and miserable, 
but they all answered : 
‘ Never mind him : he is a madman — he is nobody ; take 
no notice of him.’ 
