Page 105 - Adventures in Africa

them on this occasion ; and we, therefore-, willingly
accompanied them to the village, whence a number of
people issued forth to greet us. They then conducted
us to a. newly built hut, the inside of which was as
clean as we could desire, the floor covered with freshly

made mats. There we could more securely rest than
we had been able to do for a long time. We were,
however, not yet allowed to enter it; a feast was pre­

paring* at which it was expected we should be present,
after which there was to be a dance for our entertain­
ment. For the feast a fat ox had been killed, part
being roasted and part stewed. Some of both was
placed before us, together with huge bowls of porridge,

which our entertainers mixed with their fingers, and
transferred by the same means to their mouths in
large quantities. They looked somewhat surprised
when we hesitated to follow their example, but con­

sidering that it would show mistrust, we at last
overcame our repugnance. The porridge itself was
certainly not bad, and our hosts laughed heartily
as they saw how we burnt our fingers and made wry

faces. The whole was washed down with huge
draughts of pombe, a sort of beer, with slightly
intoxicating properties. W e did not inquire too
minutely as to how it was made. The feast over,

we heard an extraordinary uproar proceeding from
another part of the village, a sound between the
barking of dogs and people endeavouring to clear
their throats. On going in the direction whence the
strange sounds came, we found several men with

spears in their hands and anklets of shells fastened
round their legs, bending over a small fire, and pro-