the land of footprints-第31节

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density　of　the　jungle。　At　first；　we　found；　it　took　some　practice　to　tell　a　farm　when　we　saw　it。

》From　the　track　narrow　little　paths　wound　immediately　out　of　sight。　Sometimes　we　saw　a　wisp　of　smoke　rising　above　the　undergrowth　and　eddying　in　the　tops　of　the　trees。　Long　vine　ropes　swung　from　point　to　point；　hung　at　intervals　with　such　matters　as　feathers；　bones；　miniature　shields；　carved　sticks；　shells　and　clappers：　either　as　magic　or　to　keep　off　the　birds。　From　either　side　the　track　we　were　conscious　always　of　bright　black　eyes　watching　us。　Sometimes　we　caught　a　glimpse　of　their　owners　crouched　in　the　bush；　concealed　behind　banana　leaves；　motionless　and　straight　against　a　tree　trunk。　When　they　saw　themselves　observed　they　vanished　without　a　sound。

The　upper　air　was　musical　with　birds；　and　bright　with　the　flutter　of　their　wings。　Rarely　did　we　see　them　long　enough　to　catch　a　fair　idea　of　their　size　and　shape。　They　flashed　from　shade　to　shade；　leaving　only　an　impression　of　brilliant　colour。　There　were　some　exceptions：　as　the　widower…bird；　dressed　all　in　black；　with　long　trailing　wing…plumes　of　which　he　seemed　very　proud；　and　the　various　sorts　of　green　pigeons　and　parrots。　There　were　many　flowering　shrubs　and　trees；　and　the　air　was　laden　with　perfume。　Strange；　too；　it　seemed　to　see　tall　trees　with　leaves　three　or　four　feet　long　and　half　as　many　wide。

We　were　riding　a　mile　or　so　ahead　of　the　safari。　At　first　we　were　accompanied　only　by　our　gunbearers　and　syces。　Before　long；　however；　we　began　to　accumulate　a　following。

This　consisted　at　first　of　a　very　wonderful　young　man；　probably　a　chief's　son。　He　carried　a　long　bright　spear；　wore　a　short　sword　thrust　through　a　girdle；　had　his　hair　done　in　three　wrapped　queues；　one　over　each　temple　and　one　behind；　and　was　generally　brought　to　a　high　state　of　polish　by　means　of　red　earth　and　oil。　About　his　knee　he　wore　a　little　bell　that　jingled　pleasingly　at　every　step。　From　one　shoulder　hung　a　goat…skin　cloak　embroidered　with　steel　beads。　A　small　package　neatly　done　up　in　leaves　probably　contained　his　lunch。　He　teetered　along　with　a　mincing　up　and　down　step；　every　movement；　and　the　expression　of　his　face　displaying　a　fatuous　self…satisfaction。　When　we　looked　back　again　this　youth　had　magically　become　two。　Then　appeared　two　women　and　a　white　goat。　All　except　the　goat　were　dressed　for　visiting；　with　long　chains　of　beads；　bracelets　and　anklets；　and　heavy　ornaments　in　the　distended　ear　lobes。　The　manner　people　sprang　apparently　out　of　the　ground　was　very　disconcerting。　It　was　a　good　deal　like　those　fairy…story　moving　pictures　where　a　wave　of　the　wand　produces　beautiful　ladies。　By　half　an　hour　we　had　acquired　a　long　retinue…young　warriors；　old　men；　women　and　innumerable　children。　After　we　had　passed；　the　new　recruits　stepped　quietly　from　the　shadow　of　the　jungle　and　fell　in。　Every　one　with　nothing　much　to　do　evidently　made　up　his　mind　he　might　as　well　go　to　Meru　now　as　any　other　time。

Also　we　met　a　great　number　of　people　going　in　the　other　direction。　Women　were　bearing　loads　of　yams。　Chiefs'　sons　minced　along；　their　spears　poised　in　their　left　hands　at　just　the　proper　angle；　their　bangles　jingling；　their　right　hands　carried　raised　in　a　most　affected　manner。　Their　social　ease　was　remarkable；　especially　in　contrast　with　the　awkwardness　of　the　lower　poverty…stricken　or　menial　castes。　The　latter　drew　one　side　to　let　us　pass；　and　stared。　Our　chiefs'　sons；　on　the　other　hand；　stepped　springingly　and　beamingly　forward；　spat　carefully　in　their　hands　（we　did　the　same）；　shook　hands　all　down　the　line：　exchanged　a　long…drawn　〃moo…o…ga！〃　with　each　of　us；　and　departed　at　the　same　springing　rapid　gait。　The　ordinary　warriors　greeted　us；　but　did　not　offer　to　shake　hands；　thank　goodness！　There　were　a　great　many　of　them。　Across　the　valleys　and　through　the　open　spaces　the　sun；　as　it　struck　down　the　trail；　was　always　flashing　back　from　distant　spears。　Twice　we　met　flocks　of　sheep　being　moved　from　one　point　to　another。　Three　or　four　herdsmen　and　innumerable　small　boys　seemed　to　be　in　charge。　Occasionally　we　met　a　real　chief　or　headman　of　a　village；　distinguished　by　the　fact　that　he　or　a　servant　carried　a　small　wooden　stool。　With　these　dignitaries　we　always　stopped　to　exchange　friendly　words。

These　comprised　the　travelling　public。　The　resident　public　also　showed　itself　quite　in　evidence。　Once　our　retainers　had　become　sufficiently　numerous　to　inspire　confidence；　the　jungle　people　no　longer　hid。　On　the　contrary；　they　came　out　to　the　very　edge　of　the　track　to　exchange　greetings。　They　were　very　good…natured；　exceedingly　well…formed；　and　quite　jocular　with　our　boys。　Especially　did　our　suave　and　elegant　Simba　sparkle。　This　resident　public；　called　from　its　daily　labours　and　duties；　did　not　always　show　as　gaudy　a　make…up　as　did　the　dressed…up　travelling　public。　Banana　leaves　were　popular　wear；　and　seemed　to　us　at　once　pretty　and　fresh。　To　be　sure　some　had　rather　withered　away；　but　even　wool　will　shrink。　We　saw　some　grass　skirts；　like　the　Sunday…school　pictures。

At　noon　we　stopped　under　a　tree　by　a　little　stream　for　lunch。　Before　long　a　dozen　women　were　lined　up　in　front　of　us　staring　at　Billy　with　all　their　might。　She　nodded　and　smiled　at　them。　Thereupon　they　sent　one　of　their　number　away。　The　messenger　returned　after　a　few　moments　carrying　a　bunch　of　the　small　eating　bananas　which　she　laid　at　our　feet。　Billy　fished　some　beads　out　of　her　saddle　bags；　and　presented　them。　Friendly　relations　having　been　thus　fully　established；　two　or　three　of　the　women　scurried　hastily　away；　to　return　a　few　moments　later　each　with　her　small　child。　To　these　infants　they　carefully　and　earnestly　pointed　out　Billy　and　her　wonders；　talking　in　a　tongue　unknown　to　us。　The　admonition　undoubtedly　ran　something　like　this：

〃Now；　my　child；　look　well　at　this：　for　when　you　get　to　be　a　very　old　person　you　will　be　able　to　look　back　at　the　day　when　with　your　own　eyes　you　beheld　a　white　woman。　See　all　the　strange　things　she　wears…and　HASN'T　she　a　funny　face？〃

We　offered　these　bung…eyed　and　totally　naked　youngsters　various　bribes　in　the　way　of　beads；　the　tinfoil　from　chocolate；　and　even　a　small　piece　of　the　chocolate　itself。　Most　of　them　howled　and　hid　their　faces　against　their　mothers。　The　mothers　looked　scandalized；　and　hypocritically　astounded；　and　mortified。

They　made　remarks；　still　in　an　unknown　language；　but　which　much　past　experience　enabled　me　to　translate　very　readily：

〃I　don't　know　what　has　got　into　little　Willie；〃　was　the　drift　of　it。　〃I　have　never　known　him　to　act　this　way　before。　Why；　only　yesterday　I　was　saying　to　his　father　that　it　really　seemed　as　though　that　child　NEVER　cried…〃

It　made　me　feel　quite　friendly　and　at　home。

Now　at　last　came　two　marvellous　and　magnificent　personages　before　whom　the　women　and　children　drew　back　to　a　respectful　distance。　These　potentates　squatted　down　and　smiled　at　us　engagingly。　Evidently　this　was　a　really　important　couple；　so　we　called　up　Simba；　who　knew　the　language；　and　had　a　talk。

They　were　old　men；　straight；　and　very　tall；　with　the　hawk…faced；　high…headed　dignity　of　the　true　aristocrat。　Their　robes　were　voluminous；　of　some　short…haired　skins；　beautifully　embroidered。　Around　their　arms　were　armlets　of　polished　buffalo　horn。　They　wore　most　elaborate　ear　ornaments；　and　long　cased　marquise　rings　extending　well　beyond　the　first　joints　of　the　fingers。　Very　fine　old　gentlemen。　They　were　quite　unarmed。

After　appropriate　greetings；　we　learned　that　these　were　the　chief　and　his　prime　minister　of　a　nearby　village　hidden　in　the　jungle。　We　exchanged　polite　phrases；　then　offered　tobacco。　This　was　accepted。　From　the　jungle　came　a　youth　carrying　more　bananas。　We　indicated　our　pleasure。　The　old　men　arose　with　great　dignity　and　departed；　sweeping　the　women　and　children　before　them。

We　rode　on。　Our　acquired　retinue；　which　had　waited　at　a　respectful　distance；　went　on　too。　I　suppose　they　must　have　desired　the　prestige　of　being　attached　to　Our　Persons。　In　the　depths　of　the　forest　Billy　succumbed　to　the　temptation　to　bargain；　and　made　her　first　trade。　Her　prize　was　a　long　water　gourd　strapped　with　leather　and　decorated　with　cowry　shells。　Our　boys　were　completely　scandalized　at　the　price　she　paid　for　it；　so　I　fear　the　wily　savage　got　ahead　of　her。

About　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　we　sat　down　to　wait　for　the　safari　to　catch　up。　It　would　never　do　to　cheat　our　boys　out　of　their　anticipated　grand　entrance　to　the　Government　post　at　Meru。　We　finally　debouched　from　the　forest　to　the　great　clearing　at　the　head　of　a　most　impressive　procession；　flags　flying；　oryx　horns　blowing；　boys　chanting　and　beating　the　sides　of　their　loads　with　the　safari　sticks。　As　there　happened　to　be　gathered；　at　this　time；　several　thousand　of　warriors　for　the　purpose　of　a　council；　or　shauri；　with　the　District　Commissioner　we　had　just　the　audience　to　delight　our　barbaric　hearts。

（b）　MERU

The　Government　post　at　Meru　is　situated　in　a　clearing　won　from　the　forest　on　the　first　gentle　slopes　of　Kenia's　ranges。　The　clearing　is　a　very　large　one；　and　on　it　the　grass　grows　green　and　short；　like　a　lawn。　It　resembles；　as　much　as　anything　else；　the　rolling；　beautiful　downs　of　a　first…class　country　club；　and　the　illusion　is　enhanced　by　the　Commissio