ve placed in him. Had you
been bent on a trading expedition, he would have opposed your further
progress; but knowing that you are simply hunters, he is anxious to
assist you by all the means at his command. He is surprised, indeed, at
your taking so much trouble and coming so far merely to kill wild
animals, for he cannot understand the idea of sporting. He himself
hunts for the sake of procuring meat."

"Can he not understand," said Peterkin, "that _we_ hunt for fun?"

"No, he don't quite see through that. He said to me a few minutes ago,
`Have these men no meat at home, that they come all this long way to get
it?' I told him that you had plenty, and then endeavoured to explain
your idea of hunting `for fun.' But he shook his head, and I think he
does not believe you."

At this point in our conversation the king rose and gave the signal to
set out on the hunting expedition. Instantly the whole population of
the town turned out and rushed to the banks of the river, near which it
stood, where canoes were prepared for us. Suddenly there arose a great
shout, and the name "Makarooroo, Makarooroo," passed from mouth to
mouth. Presently a fine, tall, deep-chested and broad-shouldered negro
stepped up to the king and laid a leopard skin at his feet, while the
people shouted and danced with delight at the success of their
companion; for, as I have already stated, it is deemed a bold feat to
attack and slay a leopard single-handed.

While the commotion caused by this event was going on, I said to the
trader--

"How comes it that Makarooroo can speak English?"

"He spent a couple of years on the coast, in the service of a
missionary, and during that time attended the missionary school, where
he picked up a smattering of English and a trifle of geography and
arithmetic; but although a stout, sturdy hunter, and an intelligent man,
he was a lazy student, and gave the good missionary much trouble to
hammer the little he knows into his thick skull. At last he grew tired
of it, and returned to his tribe; but he brought his Bible with him, and
I am told is very diligent in the study of it. His education has gained
for him a great reputation as a fetishman, or doctor of mysteries, among
his people. I used often to see him at school hammering away at m-a,
ma-b-a, ba, and so on, amid a group of children. He used to sit beside
the king--"

"The king!" said I, in surprise.

"Ay; the king of that district became a Chri