A SAFARI AND WHAT IT IS 
73 
porters get into the habit of carrying a certain load 
and so there is usually little confusion in distribut¬ 
ing the packs. 
Life and activity begin early in camp. You go 
to bed early and before dawn you are awakened by 
the singing of countless birds of many kinds. The 
air is fresh and cool, and you draw your woolen 
blankets a little closer around you. The tent is 
closed, but through the little cracks you can see 
that all is still dark. In a few moments a faint 
grayness steals into the air, and off in the half dark¬ 
ness you hear the Somali gunbearers chanting their 
morning prayers—soft, musical, and soothing. 
Then there are more voices murmuring in the air 
and the camp slowly awakens to life. Some one is 
heard chopping wood, and by that time day breaks 
with a crash. All is life, and the birds are singing 
as though mad with the joy of life and sunshine. A 
little later a shadowy figure appears by your cot 
and says, ee Chai> bwana ” which means, “Tea, mas¬ 
ter.” 
You turn over and slowly sip the hot tea, while 
outside in the clear morning air the sound of voices 
grows and grows until you know that eighty or a 
hundred men are busy getting their breakfasts. 
The crackling of many fires greets your ears and 
the pungent smell of wood fires salutes your nos¬ 
trils. You look at your watch and it is perhaps five 
or half past. The air is still cold and you hasten to 
slip out of your cot. It is never considered wise to 
bathe in the morning here. 
