Page 183 - Adventures in Africa

the hunters expressed their happiness in seeing us,
and invited us to their village*
W e should liave excused ourselves, on the plea of

having at once to return to cam p; but, as the day
was already drawing to a close, and even Toko de­
clared that during- the darkness he should be unable

to find his way back, we accepted the invitation, and
set off with our new friends, who were in high spirits

at the thoughts of the quagga flesh they were about
to enjoy.
Their huts were larger and cleaner than any we

had yet seen ; and we found that, although the people
were hunters, they were also agriculturists, and pos­
sessed pretty extensive plantations at the back of the

village.
The women were immediately set to w ork to pre­
pare the feast; and in a short time the whole popu­

lation was banqueting. We, of course, soon knocked
off, and begged permission to rest in one of the huts.
We had scarcely however gone to sleep, than we were

aroused by a tremendous hubbub ; and, rushing out,
we found all the women on foot, engaged in seizing
their children, whom they had hauled out of their

beds, or rather up from the mats on which they lay,
and were belabouring them unmercifully with rods.

On enquiring the cause from Toko, he told us that
news had been brought that an immense herd of
elephants was approaching the plantations. The
object of beating the children was to frighten away

the animals. This wa% for one cause, good news for
us, as we hoped to obtain full cargoes for our waggons.

W e at once offered to go out and shoot the elephants;
N