Part 24 (1/2)

APPENDIX IV THE AMERICAN IN AFRICA

IN WHICH HE APPEARS AS DIFFERENT FROM THE ENGLISHMAN

It is always interesting to play the other fellow's gaht of experience, to see wherein our way and his way modify each other

The above proposition here refers to ca We do considerable of it in our country, especially in our North and West After we have been at it for some time, we evolve a method of our own The basis of that method is to do without; to GO LIGHT At first even the best of us will carry too much plunder, but ten years of philosophy and rainstor us to an irreduciblewith two pack horses, say; or, on a harder trip, each will carry the necessities on his own back To take just as little as is consistent with coame skilfully Any article must pay in use for its transportation

With this ideal deeply ingrained by the test of experience, the American camper is appalled by the caravan his British cousins consider necessary for a trip into the African back country His said cousin has, perhaps, very kindly offered to have his outfit ready for him when he arrives

He does arrive to find froathered as his personal attendants

”Great Scot!” he cries, ”I want to go ca; I don't want to invade anybody's territory Why the army?”

He discovers that these are porters, to carry his effects

”What effects?” he deuns, soht in London, and half-filled with extra clothes, a few medicines, a thermometer, and so what else he is going to put in to keep things fro about Of course he expected besides these to take along a little plain grub, and solish friend has known several Americans, so he explains patiently

”I know this seems foolish to you,” he says, ”but you s differently here As long as you keep fit you are safe; but if you get run down a bit you'll go

You've got to do yourself well, down here, rather better than you have to in any other cliet; and you want to save yourself all you can”

This has a reasonable sound and the A fros over There is a double tent, folding ca table, wash basin, bath tub, cot, ers; there are oil lanterns, oil carriers, two loads ofutensils and cook camp stuff; there is an open fly, which his friend explains is his dining tent; and there are fro in a row, each with its padlock ”I didn't go in for luxury,” apologizes the English friend ”Of course we can easily add anything you want but I reht”

”What are those?” our A to the locked boxes

He learns that they are chop boxes, containing food and supplies At this he rises on his hind legs and paws the air

”Food!” he shrieks ”Why,to be out three months! I can carry all I'll ever eat in three lishman patiently explains You cannot live on ”bacon and beans” in this country, so to speak You must do yourself rather well, you know, to keep in condition And you cannot pack food in bags, it s as your sparklet siphons and line

”Chane,” breathes the American in awestricken tones

”Exactly, dear boy, an absolute necessity After a touch of sun there's nothing picks you up better than a mouthful of fizz It's used as a medicine, not a drink, you understand”

The Aa it for soht to know But he cannot yet see why the one hundred and fifty lishman explains There is the Headman to run the show

Correct: we need him Then there are four askaris What are they? Native soldiers No, you won't be fighting anything; but they keep thethe complicated work

Next is your cook, and your own valet and that of your horse Also your two gunbearers