THE SALUTE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 17 (Supplement)

THE SALUTE

Short Short Story

IT happened some years ago 1 now in Zanzibar, and I can see tho wonderful scene again as 1 wnlr. Our liner at anchor in the heir hour perhaps one of the most beautiful in the world with the sea. so extremely blue, the deepest, deepest ultramarine! and the yellow and white flat-roofed palaces and mosques agleam with the wonderful sunshine. Around tho white liner were dozens of bum In ia t». Silks from the East, curios from China and Japan and, alas l" r 1 unwary, from Hirmin^liain. I r.i I'j'i'd into the motor boat with l' 11 1" party to upend the day ashore. I had l"cn several times before., and li.nl pi <• 111 i-••< 1 to show them round. It was a mi\cd parly. There was a bi ,r Creek, Levantine I think, name Lillian i'j, a bit, of a niysterv! ji coi |.m ].'n I rll ilita ry - ]i>oW i 1 to too much whisky niel always boasting ol' liis ser\ ice in the Cape Mounted l'olice; a red ha ir.-.l Scotch colonial. South Ah ican. named McLean. return" inir Hum a 11 ij> ho.n;-; a well■ built. J'"lite Italian named Uasco; and "Little' I'.ank", as some unkindly called him, it small, slight Englishman from t lie Midlands, a ipiiet, Rood-looking man. a lew inches above live feet, who ulwin s wore sun glasses. All amid much »pla*hin". we chugged our way through the "boats and Arab dhows to the little landing stage. I here 1 was met by my old friend Knranjce, an India n who had brought a big American car to drive us around the island. After jut inductions, we drove down tho long sea front, to the town. On the way we passed two Askari of tluit wonderful force, the King's African Rifles, on sentry duty outside the Custom House. Immediately there was a rattle and l»oth instantly raised their rifle* to the s«lute. Canarres touched ma on the shoulder. "Zee," he said, laughing, "they remember me, isn't it?" "I don't think." laughed Davis with a bre.ith of Scotch. "These niggers are born in thr Army and they can tell a British officer anywhere and I usually get a salute." "Perhaps they know your friend," indicating Karanjee, said MeT>ean. "They don t salute Indians," blustered Davis, rather rudely. At this moment we turned a eorner into the town. At the point an Askari. who was directing the traffic, mounted on a little platform, stopped all traffic to let us pass and then Raised his hand in a splendid salute. We all laughed except Davis, who sat up very erect and returned the salute in an exaggerated fashion.

ByJohn Brandon

(< Ba " co turned to me, and whispered: I think it must be you. Rogers; 1 saw him distinctly look at you." "Not guilty," I replied. "Arc you sure it was not yourself; you have been in the Bersajrhlieri." .f^ 1 * o ',, 110 ' he s »id. "No salute in Africa. !■ urtlier up tho narrow street, a Kaleidoscope „f f.,],,,,,- ,-dowlv. for the car almost touched the stalls'and shops each side-we proceeded. Yet another Askari—for they are the police i„ Ka.-t Atricn and all tlie traffic was stopped lor us to pass, and again the superb salute. Ajjain we all laughed and Hanks almost imperceptibly returned the salute.

Karanjee smiled also, and said quietly to me: "It is funny they never do it unless it is a soldier; how they tell I don't know." Whenever we saw an Askari the salute was the same, and I began to think it was because they took us for a. party of officers, because we all wore topees. Auainst this, so did everybody. We all claimed the salute, but Davis was so positive and bombastic about it that I said: "Look, here are a corporal and two men niarehinjr ahead; you can soon prove it is you, Davis. Sit on the floor of the ear as we pass, so that they can't see you." He protested a bit, but the others laughingly pushed him out of sight, and I told Karanjee to go slow as we passed. He did. and immediately the corporal sang out: "Ryes r-r-ri^ht!Poor Davis was hauled back to his 3eat and chaffed unmercifully. but we were still at <i loss. Alter a silence fell upon us all, as the beauties of tiiis marvellous island, faued since the days of Herodotus. luffeU our senses.