burst out from the women and children, while Runi at my side, in
an access of fierce delight and admiration, turned and embraced
me. It was the first and last embrace I ever suffered from a
naked male savage, and although this did not seem a time for
fastidious feelings, to be hugged to his sweltering body was an
unpleasant experience.

More cups of casserie followed this outburst; and at last, unable
to keep it up any longer, I staggered to my hammock; but being
unable to get into it, Runi, overflowing with kindness, came to
my assistance, whereupon we fell and rolled together on the
floor. Finally I was raised by the others and tumbled into my
swinging bed, and fell at once into a deep, dreamless sleep, from
which I did not awake until after sunrise on the following
morning.



CHAPTER II

It is fortunate that casserie is manufactured by an extremely
slow, laborious process, since the women, who are the
drink-makers, in the first place have to reduce the material
(cassava bread) to a pulp by means of their own molars, after
which it is watered down and put away in troughs to ferment.
Great is the diligence of these willing slaves; but, work how
they will, they can only satisfy their lords' love of a big drink
at long intervals. Such a function as that at which I had
assisted is therefore the result of much patient mastication and
silent fermentation--the delicate flower of a plant that has been