fleshy leaves, in shape somewhat like our sedges, when bruised yield much
fine strong fibre, which is made into ropes, nets, and wigs. It takes
dyes readily, and the fibre might form a good article of commerce. "Ife"
wigs, as we afterwards saw, are not uncommon in this country, though
perhaps not so common as hair wigs at home. Sandia's mosamela, or small
carved wooden pillow, exactly resembling the ancient Egyptian one, was
hung from the back of his neck; this pillow and a sleeping mat are
usually carried by natives when on hunting excursions.

We had the elephant's fore-foot cooked for ourselves, in native fashion.
A large hole was dug in the ground, in which a fire was made; and, when
the inside was thoroughly heated, the entire foot was placed in it, and
covered over with the hot ashes and soil; another fire was made above the
whole, and kept burning all night. We had the foot thus cooked for
breakfast next morning, and found it delicious. It is a whitish mass,
slightly gelatinous, and sweet, like marrow. A long march, to prevent
biliousness, is a wise precaution after a meal of elephant's foot.
Elephant's trunk and tongue are also good, and, after long simmering,
much resemble the hump of a buffalo and the tongue of an ox; but all the
other meat is tough, and, from its peculiar flavour, only to be eaten by
a hungry man. The quantities of meat our men devour is quite astounding.
They boil as much as their pots will hold, and eat till it becomes
physically impossible for them to stow away any more. An uproarious
dance follows, accompanied with stentorian song; and as soon as they have
shaken their first course down, and washed off the sweat and dust of the
after performance, they go to work to roast more: a short snatch of sleep
succeeds, and they are up and at it again; all night long it is boil and
eat, roast and devour, with a few brief interludes of sleep. Like other
carnivora, these men can endure hunger for a much longer period than the
mere porridge-eating tribes. Our men can cook meat as well as any
reasonable traveller could desire; and, boiled in earthen pots, like
Indian chatties, it tastes much better than when cooked in iron ones.

CHAPTER V.

Magnificent scenery--Method of marching--Hippopotamus killed--Lions and
buffalo--Sequasha the ivory-trader.

Sandia gave us two guides; and on the 4th of June we left the Elephant
valley, taking a westerly course; and, after crossing a few ridges,