African Camp Fires by Stewart Edward White
page 87 of 268 (32%)
page 87 of 268 (32%)
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element; it has done things; it contemplates vital problems from the
vantage ground of experience. The talk veers from pole to pole--and returns always to lions. Every little while a native--a raw savage--comes along and takes up a stand just outside the railing. He stands there mute and patient for five minutes--a half hour--until some one, any one, happens to notice him. "N'jo!--come here!" commands this person. The savage silently proffers a bit of paper on which is written the name of the one with whom he has business. "Nenda officie!" indicates the charitable person waving his hand towards the hotel office. Then, and not until this permission has been given by some one, dares the savage cross the threshold to do his errand. If the messenger happens to be a trained houseboy, however, dressed in his uniform of khaki or his more picturesque white robe and cap, he is privileged to work out his own salvation. And behind the hotel are rows and rows of other boys, each waiting patiently the pleasure of his especial bwana lounging at ease after strenuous days. At the drawling shout of "boy!" one of them instantly departs to find out which particular boy is wanted. The moment any white man walks to the edge of the veranda a half-dozen of the rickshaws across the street career madly around the corners of |
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