THE ADVENTURES OF SAMBO AND POMPEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 45

THE ADVENTURES OF SAMBO AND POMPEY.

By Mubbay Aston,

A STORY OF AFRICAN ADVENTURE.

Chapter IV. The Honey Guide. A Strange Meeting. Locust 3.

They made their start soon after daylight one glorious summer morning, Bopa was at his post as leader of the first pair of oxen ; and Jamracb, acting as driver, wielded his great whip with both hands in a way which leftnothiDg to be desired. The professor was mounted on his favourite roan Ronald ; and Sambo and Pompey, armed with assegais and kerries, ian on a little in advance.

By easy 'stages they hoped to make a branch of the Zambesi river some 10 days' journey to the north, and here Jamrach had promised them not only an abundance of diamonds, but quantities of game both large and small.

The country they were now traversing contained springbok and other game, but the supply was comparatively limited. The boys, however, were able to knock over three large birds of the partridge triba, known as the coranne, which formed a welcome addition to their larder. Presently they heard the peculiar cry of the honey-bird, a sort of cuckoo. They made their way towards the spot whence came the sound, which is not unlike the word "Cherr, cherr," and the bird, seeing they were following, took them right up to a fine bees' nest. They were careful not to take all the honey, but left some for the guide.

The professor and Jamracb, who were both partial to sweets, gave Sambo and Pompey great praise for their discovery, and the professor afforded them some interesting facts in connection with their feathered friend. " There are several species," he said, " of tbe honey-bird, but they all belong to the cuckoo family. These birds are remarkable for the trust which they instinctively repose in mankind. It is curious, however, that tha honey guide does not invariably lead to the nests of bees. It has an odd habit of guidiDg the attention of mankind to any animal which may be hiding in the bush, and the wary traveller is always careful to have his weapons ready when following the honey-guide, knowing its unpleasant habit of occasionally leading to a concealed buffalo or lion, or perhaps a cobra."

The party travelled or trekked on without anything of special note the first day of their journey, but the boys reported that they had seen the tracks of a lion, and every precaution was taken to prevent the loss of either oxen or horses that night. They even took the trouble to cut out an enclosure from the buah, whose edges were composed of dense thorns, into which they turned the cattle, so that on three sides were thorns with the waggon on the fourth.

Having lighted a graat fire and arranged for tha keeping of a strict; watch, they turned in with a feeling of tolerable security. The night passed without alarm, and] at daylight Jamrach called the boys, and ' taking his rifle the trio, accompanied by the dogs, left the camp in search of an antelope. They soon had the good fortune to come across a herd, one of which fell to the unerring aim of the Boer. The animal was soon skinned, and the best parts put on one side for immediate consumption, the remainder being cut into long thin strips and hung on branches. The burning sunbeams soon had the effect of converting the scarlet strips of raw meat into a substance that looked like old shoe leather and was nearly as tough. This preparation of sun-dried meat is ■ known as beltong, and tbe mode of dressing it is to put it under the ashes of tbe fire, next to pound it between two stones, and then to stew it slowly in a pot just as is done with fresh beef. As a general rule, wild deer and antelope have very little fat about them, and are exceedingly tough. The eland, however, is an exception, and makes succulent meat. Good though this fine animal undoubtedly is for food, the Kaffir will not partake of its flesh, and he extends this dislike to many other animals which are esteemed by Europeans, The favourite food of the native is beef — that is, when he can get it, which is only on rare occasions. He will, so peculiar is he in his likes and dislikes, not touch fish ; and indeed he expresses the greatest repugnance to that most agreeable article of diet.

That day Sambo and Pompey, who formed the advance guard as usual, encountered a strange figure in the track. It consisted of a Zulu in full dress— a'friDge of 6kins around his w^ist, a Bort of tippet of the same material over his back and chest*, with smaller fringes just below each knee. His back hair was secured in a knot, and depending from it were feathers, one of which drooped right down his back. He was a fine specimen of humanity, but the fact that he rode upon an ox rather detracted from tbe nobility of hte appearance. The stranger bestrode his queer steed without saddle, and guided it by means of a stick through its nostrils, witb a cord tied to each end of it. He was proceeding at a walkipg pace, beyond wnich he never went, when they met him. They exchanged greetings, and the newcomer expressed the liveliest satisfaction on hearing of their expedition, and requested to be conducted forthwith to their boss. He told tbe professor, when they met a few minutes later, that be was in danger of his life from the king of his tribe, and begged to be allowed to join the party ; and after a consultation with Jdmrach, who was getting tired of driving the oxen — which is, moreover, a post best filled by a Kaffir — an agreement was made, and forthwith Dingan exchanged places with the Boer, and became coachman. The new driver could speak a little Eaglieb, which was an advantage, and he proved himself an intelligent, brave, and devoted adherent.

That afternoon the boya captured a young baboon or chacma. It had received an injury to its leg, which the doctor kindly attended to, and tbe creature appeared to recognise

the benefit of the operation, and allowed the broken limb to be set with a patience almost worthy of a human being. " The professor took the opportunity of telling his hearers that the baboon lived on a plaut called babiana, from the use which the baboons make of it. It is a subterranean root, which has the property of always being full of watery juice in the driest weather, so that it is of incalculable value to travellers who have not a large supply of water with them, or who find that the regular fountains are dried up. Here Jamracn remarked in his quaint way that " Der Boers always kebe a lame abe to leat dem to vater yen dey are on dere journeys."

"Ye 3," added Dr Goodwood, " and I have heard that the Kaffirs, if they come upon a plant or a fruit which they do not know, offer it to the baboon, and if he eats it they known that it is suitable for human consumption."

And it was unanimously resolved that the baboon should form one of the party. Thsy camped that night at a native village, and were regaled with amasi, which is the staff of life to a Kaffir. This consists of milk which has been treated in the following manner :— When a cow baa been milked the Kaffir empties the pail into a large store basket. This basket already contains milk in the second Btage, and is never completely emptied. Soon after the milk has been placed in the basket a sort of fermentation takes place, and in a short time the whole of the liquid is converted into a semi-solid mass and a watery fluid something like whey. The latter is drawn off, and used as a drink or given to the children ; and the remainder is a thick clotted substance about the consistency of Devonshire cream. This is called amasi. Europeans who have lived in Kaffirland generally dislike amasi exceedingly at first, but they soon come to prefer it to milk in any other form. Some persons have compared the amasi to curds after the whey has been drawn off, but thia is not a fair comparison. The amasi is not in lumps or in card, but is a thick creamy mass more like our clotted cream than any other substance. It has a slightly acid flavour. Children, whether black or white, are always very fond of amasi, and there can be no better food for them. Dr Goodwood found that he could eat it, but tbe Zulus and Jatnrach enjoyed their meal thoroughly, which, moreover, was supplemented by some unusually fine bananas — certainly the most valued of fruit — and some excellent cakes made from carefully-ground maize, the meal of which was not unlike oatmeal porridge. The professor was much struck by the peculiar appearance of the horns of the cattle belonging to their hosts, which, on

account of the multiplicity of their branches and the variety of their different twistings, bore a great resemblance to those marine productions known by naturalists under the name of stag's horns. The doctor found on inquiry that this singularity in the cattle was only tbe result of Kaffir invention and taste, and that by means of a process with which they were well acquainted they could not only multiply these horns, but also give them any form that their imaginations might suggest. They take the animal at as tender an age as possible, and when tbe horns begin to appear they make a small vertical inpision in them with a saw, or any other instrument that may be substituted for it, and divide them into two parts. This division causes tbe horns, yet tender, to separate of themselves, so that in time the animal has four very distinct horns. If they wish to have six or even more, similar notches are made with the saw, producing as many as may be required. If, on the other hand, they are desirous of forcing one of these divisions in the whola horn to form, for example, a complete circle, they cut away from the pomt — which must not be hurt — a small part of its thickness, and* this amputation, often renewed, and with much patienca, causes the horn to bead in a contrary direction, and the point meeting tbe root it exhibits the appearance of a perfect circle. As each inoision causes a greater or less degree of bending, it may be readily conceived that every variation that caprica can imagine can be, and is, produced by this simple method. A hornless ox is generally chosen for riding, in order to avoid the danger of the rider falling forward and wounding himself ; but sometimes the Kaffir forces the horns to grow downwards, and in many instances contrives to make the horns flap about quite loosely, as if they wee only suspended by thongs from the animal's head.

That night the adventurers were invited to take part in a locust hunt, to which they gladly gave their consent; and as soon as the shades of evening had rendered the insects helpless the native 3 turned out in a body with sacks, skins, and anything that could hold the expected prey, those who possessed such animals bringing pack oxen in erder to bear the loads home. The locusts were swept by millions into the sacks without any particular exertion on the parb of the natives, though not without some danger, as several venemons serpents, which had come for tbe purpose of feeding on the insects, were seen, and the " Qomph I oomph ! " of the lion was heard in close proximity — even the lion and other formidable carnivora not disdaining so easily gained a repast. However, the hunt proceeded without mishap of any kind, and on a return to the village,

the locusts were boiled with a little water in large pots. When boiled, or rather steamed, until sufficiently cooked they were taken out of the pots and spread out in tbe sunbeams to dry, and when this part of the proc-isa was completed they were shaken about in t lvi wind until the legs aud wings fell off, and were carried away just aa the chaff is carried off by the breeze when corn is winnowed. .When perfectly dry they were stored away in baskets or placed in the granaries, just a.% though they were corn. The natives eat them whole just as we eat shrimps, aud, as a great luxury, when they can afford it, they add a little salt. Usually, however, tbe lucusts are treated much in tbe same manner as corn or maize. They are ground to powder by the mill until they are reduced to meal, which is then mixed with water so as to form a kind of porridge. A good locust season is always acceptable to the native?, who can indulge their enormous appetites to an almost unlimited extent, and in consequence they become quite fat in comparison with their ordinary appearance. The ravages made by the locusts are terrible. Nothing short of death stops them in their progress, and they eat everything of a vegetable nature, and have been known to consume a whole field of maize in two hours, and wherever they alight; every greea thing vanishes. (To he continued.)

shall all be glad to hear about your peta. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — Not being able to write on paper myself, as I cannot see very well, my cousin, who is staying with us during her holidays, is writing for me. When I was a baby I went to Dunedin to have an operation on my eyes, for I was blind, but as one eye was a failure, the doctor did not operate on the other one. About four years ago I went to Melbourne and had another operation on the other eye, and I can see a little with one eye now. When I was in Melbourne mother took me to the Royal Park, where there were a lot of animals. Of course I could not see the animals, but mother told me what they were like, and I heard the sounds they made. We went to the pony show, and some of the ponies were just about the size of dogs. I got a nice big doll at Christmas time. My cousin and I have fine times playing about. We have got our harvest holidays now. — Yours truly, Mador Cleland. Sutherlands, Timaru, January 29. [Poor little Madge, I hope the sight will get stronger in your eye, bo that you will in time be able to write as well a« your cousin. lam sure the other little folks would like to know how you get on afe school if jour cousin would write for you and tell us. — Dot.] . Dear Dot, — In my last letter I promised to tell you something about my cats. Tabby's mother came from London. Tabby was born at j Lake Wanaka ; she is a pretty cat, with Jargo bright eyes. Dear Dot, I have got a big doll. It was given to me as a Christmas present from my cousin. What name do you think I should give it ? My brother thinks he is gc ing to be Lord Mayor of London like Dick Whittington, j because the cat is so fond of him. — Yours truly, Sarah Pi n. Clarke street, North-East Valley, January 28. [Christina would be appropriate, I think. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I have just come back from my holidays, so I thought I would let you know how I pnjoyed myself, and tell you something of the places I have been to. We (my mother, my sister, and I) went firefc of all to Hampden. Have you ever been there ? I think it is such a pretty place to stay at, and it is also a very healthy place. It is a little township quite close to the sea. The beach is lovely — five or six miles of firm hard sand, and when the tide is out it is splendid for either riding, driving, or walking. We used to drive along the beach to Moeraki. We were staying with such nice, kind people. Don't you think the people in the country seem much kinder and nicer than the town people ? We had delicious curds every day, and such lovely thick cream. We did enjoy it. Every morning we used to go down to the beach and spend nearly all the forenoon bathing and wading in the breakers. Then in the afternoon we used to go out for a drive, and sometimes I was allowed to drive. I felt j very grand when I had the reins in my handa. j The old horse was very quiet, except when a ; bicycle oame along. Peggy did not like '

[Thank you, but is this one finished P It does not seem to be. I am sure the little folks will want to know how 'Tessa got on at the mineral baths. How would it do to call the kitten Tessa, and the calf Carl ?— Dot.] Deab Dot, — We have 31 horses, and we have also 17 cows in milk. I drive to school in a daisy cart. It is very cold in winter. I have a kitten, and we call it Chancie. We have two dogs named Floss and Lassie. Lassie is an old dog, and she can't run much. Floss has two little black pups. — Yours truly, A. B. and L. L. (aged 9 and 10). Otautau, January 28. Dear Dot, — Having a little leisure at jny disposal, I thought that I could not better employ it than by giving the Witness little folks the benefit of an amusing manuscript which I discovered one day in my possession. It runs as follows : — SNAIX. The striped snaik iz one ov the slipperyest jobs that natur ever turned loose. They travel on the lower side of themselfe, an' kan slip out ov site like blowin' out a kandel. They wear made fur sum good put-pas, bub i bay' newer bin informed fur wat, unless it waz !ew hay' there beds smashed. Ded snaix ar' a weekness with me ; i alwaiz respekt them, and whenevver i sea a ded wun in the rode i don't drop a tere on him, but i drop anuther stone on him fur fere he mite alter his mined an' cum tew life agin, fur a suaik haits tew dye jest az mutch az a kat duss I am jest az frade of snaix now az i waz 40 yerea ago. Wimmiu don't luv snaix enny more than i dew, and I respekt her for this. How on earth Eve was seduced by a snaik is a fuit-class miatery tew me, an if i haddent red it in the Bible I wud bett agonsfc ib. Snaix can't stan' the encroch-. ments ov sivilizashun — the seed of woman is alwaiz after them with a long poal. Out of 1000 snaix born annually the Btayti->sticks aho that 950 dye in a grate hurry. Snaix of awl I kinds hay' got but wun destiny tew fill, and Divine Providence haz fixt that •. it is too get there heds squeezed by a suitable-sized pebble, a stic, or a poal. There is very little poetry in snaix ov enny kind until thay git there heds Bmashed, and that is jest where the poetry cums in. Thare aint much poetry in me, but if I was called upon tew wright an obituary notiss for the raiss ot Bnai,x when they lay ded in wun pile, i wood taik oph mi cote, roal up mi Bleves, spit; on my hands, and write sjim verses ■that I woodcut be ashamed ov ennyhow. — Yours truly, Cobra di Capello.

Duaedio, January 28.

Dkar Dot, — I want to teU you how I spent part of my holidays at the lakes. First I went with daddy and my sister to Clinton, where we stopped all night, and the next morning we went in the train to InvercargiU, and stopped thßre all night. The next morning we went in the train to Kingston and got into the steamer and went to Queenstown, and stopped there one night. The next morning about a quarter to 10 we went in the steamer to Kinloch, and stopped at Mrs Bryant's house, and I went up

to (see the glacier ; it was very pretty. Mrs Bryant has 35 cows and calves altogether. Minnie Bryant wag so kind to me while I was up there. We rowed in a boat to Glenorchy and drove to Paradise. The next day we went in the steamer to Queenstown, and stopp?d there. We had a drive to Lake Hayes, where Mr Baird lives, and we saw Diamond Lake. It was very pretty. Next morning we went in the steamer to Kingston, and went in the train to Lumsden, and btopped there one night, and the next day we went by train to Gore, and stopped there half an hour and had our dinner, and went in another train to Dunedin. Mother met us at the station, and we all went home together. — Yours truly, Daisy Hastings (aged 7 years). St. Leonards, February 4.