the land of footprints-第35部分
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s to peer into our own faces to see how we liked it。
With a sudden crescendo the music stopped。 Involuntarily we broke into handclapping。 The old boy looked a bit startled at this； but we explained to him； and he seemed very pleased。 We then accepted formally the heap of presents； by touching them…and in turn passed over a blanket； a box of matches； and two needles； together with beads for the beebees。 Then F。； on an inspiration； produced his flashlight。 This made a tremendous sensation。 The women tittered and giggled and blinked as its beams were thrown directly into their eyes； the chief's sons grinned and guffawed； the chief himself laughed like a pleased schoolboy； and seemed never to weary of the sudden shutting on and off of the switch。 But the trusty Spartan warriors； standing still in their formation behind their planted spears； were not to be shaken。 They glared straight in front of them； even when we held the light within a few inches of their eyes； and not a muscle quivered！
〃It is wonderful！ wonderful！〃 the old man repeated。 〃Many Government men have come here； but none have had anything like that！ The bwanas must be very great sultans！〃
After the departure of our friends； we went rather grandly to bed。 We always did after any one had called us sultans。
But our prize chief was an individual named M'booley。* Our camp here also was on a fine cleared hilltop between two streams。 After we had traded for a while with very friendly and prosperous people M'booley came in。 He was young； tall； straight； with a beautiful smooth lithe form； and his face was hawklike and cleverly intelligent。 He carried himself with the greatest dignity and simplicity； meeting us on an easy plane of familiarity。 I do not know how I can better describe his manner toward us than to compare it to the manner the member of an exclusive golf club would use to one who is a stranger； but evidently a guest。 He took our quality for granted； and supposed we must do the same by him； neither acting as though he considered us 〃great white men；〃 nor yet standing aloof and too respectful。 And as the distinguishing feature of all； he was absolutely without personal ornament。
*Pronounce each o separately。
Pause for a moment to consider what a real advance in esthetic taste that one little fact stands for。 All M'booley's attendants were the giddiest and gaudiest savages we had yet seen； with more colobus fur； sleighbells； polished metal； ostrich plumes； and red paint than would have fitted out any two other royal courts of the jungle。 The women too were wealthy and opulent without limit。 It takes considerable perception among our civilized people to realize that severe simplicity amid ultra magnificence makes the most effective distinguishing of an individual。 If you do not believe it； drop in at the next ball to which you are invited。 M'booley had fathomed this； and what was more he had the strength of mind to act on it。 Any savage loves finery for its own sake。 His hair was cut short； and shaved away at the edges to leave what looked like an ordinary close…fitting skull cap。 He wore one pair of plain armlets on his left upper arm and small simple ear…rings。 His robe was black。 He had no trace of either oil or paint； nor did he even carry a spear。
He greeted us with good…humoured ease； and inquired conversationally if we wanted anything。 We suggested wood and milk； whereupon still smiling； he uttered a few casual words in his own language to no one in particular。 There was no earthly doubt that he was chief。 Three of the most gorgeous and haughty warriors ran out of camp。 Shortly long files of women came in bringing loads of firewood； and others carrying bananas； yams； sugarcane and a sheep。 Truly M'booley did things on a princely scale。 We thanked him。 He accepted the thanks with a casual smile； waved his hand and went on to talk of something else。 In due order our M'ganga brought up one of our best trade blankets； to which we added a half dozen boxes of matches and a razor。
Now into camp filed a small procession： four women； four children； and two young men。 These advanced to where M'booley was standing smoking with great satisfaction one of B's tailor…made cigarettes。 M'booley advanced ten feet to meet them； and brought them up to introduce them one by one in the most formal fashion。 These were of course his family； and we had to confess that they 〃saw〃 N'Zahgi's outfit of ornaments and 〃raised〃 him beyond the ceiling。 We gave them each in turn the handshake of ceremony； first with the palms as we do it； and then each grasping the other's upright thumb。 The 〃little chiefs〃 were proud； aristocratic little fellows； holding themselves very straight and solemn。 I think one would have known them for royalty anywhere。
It was quite a social occasion。 None of our guests was in the least ill at ease； in fact； the young ladies were quite coy and flirtatious。 We had a great many jokes。 Each of the little ladies received a handful of prevailing beads。 M'booley smiled benignly at these delightful femininities。 After a time he led us to the edge of the hill and showed us his houses across the cation； perched on a flat about halfway up the wall。 They were of the usual grass…thatched construction； but rather larger and neater than most。 Examining them through the glasses we saw that a little stream had been diverted to flow through the front yard。 M'booley waved his hand abroad and gave us to understand that he considered the outlook worth looking at。 It was； but an appreciation of that fact is foreign to the average native。 Next morning； when we rode by very early； we found the little flat most attractively cleared and arranged。 M'booley was out to shake us by the hand in farewell； shivering in the cold of dawn。 The flirtatious and spoiled little beauties were not in evidence。
One day after two very deep canyons we emerged from the forest jungle into an up and down country of high jungle bush…brush。 》From the top of a ridge it looked a good deal like a northern cut…over pine country grown up very heavily to blackberry vines； although； of course； when we came nearer； the 〃blackberry vines〃 proved to be ten or twenty feet high。 This was a district of which Horne had warned us。 The natives herein were reported restless and semi…hostile； and in fact had never been friendly。 They probably needed the demonstration most native tribes seem to require before they are content to settle down and be happy。 At any rate safaris were not permitted in their district； and we ourselves were allowed to go through merely because we were a large party； did not intend to linger； and had a good reputation with natives。
It is very curious how abruptly； in Central Africa； one passes from one condition to another； from one tribe or race to the next。 Sometimes； as in the present case； it is the traversing of a deep cation； at others the simple crossing of a tiny brook is enough。 Moreover the line of demarcation is clearly defined； as boundaries elsewhere are never defined save in wartime。
Thus we smiled our good…bye to a friendly numerous people； descended a hill； and ascended another into a deserted track。 After a half mile we came unexpectedly on to two men carrying each a load of reeds。 These they abandoned and fled up the hillside through the jungle； in spite of our shouted assurances。 A moment later they reappeared at some distance above us； each with a spear he had snatched from somewhere； they were unarmed when we first caught sight of them。 Examined through the glasses they proved to be sullen looking men； copper coloured； but broad across the cheekbones； broad in the forehead； more decidedly of the negro type than our late hosts。
Aside from these two men we travelled through an apparently deserted jungle。 I suspect； however； that we were probably well watched； for when we stopped for noon we heard the gunbearers beyond the screen of leaves talking to some one。 On learning from our boys that these were some of the shenzis； we told them to bring the savages in for a shauri； but in this our men failed； nor could they themselves get nearer than fifty yards or so to the wild people。 So until evening our impression remained that of two distant men； and the indistinct sound of voices behind a leafy screen。
We made camp comparatively early in a wide open space surrounded by low forest。 Almost immediately then the savages commenced to drift in； very haughty and arrogant。 They were fully armed。 Besides the spear and decorated shield； some of them carried the curious small grass spears。 These are used to stab upward from below； the wielder lying flat in the grass。 Some of these men were fantastically painted with a groundwork ochre； on which had been drawn intricate wavy designs on the legs； like stockings； and varied stripes across the face。 One particularly ingenious individual； stark naked； had outlined a roughly entire skeleton！ He was a gruesome object！ They stalked here and there through the camp； looking at our men and their activities with a lofty and silent contempt。
You may be sure we had our arrangements； though they did not appear on the surface。 The askaris； or native soldiers； were posted here and there with their muskets； the gunbearers also kept our s
