the elephant Jana
and "who knew but that we might meet him?"

"Or his worshippers on two legs," I suggested, to which his only reply
was a nod.

So we got our repeating rifles, some of the first that were ever made,
serviceable but rather complicated weapons that fired five cartridges.
Hans, however, with my permission, armed himself with the little Purdey
piece that was named "Intombi," the singe-barrelled, muzzle-loading gun
which had done me so much service in earlier days, and even on my last
journey to Pongoland. He said that he was accustomed to it and did not
understand these new-fangled breechloaders, also that it was "lucky." I
consented as I did not think that it made much difference with what kind
of rifle Hans was provided. As a marksman he had this peculiarity: up to
a hundred yards or so he was an excellent shot, but beyond that distance
no good at all.

A quarter of an hour later, as the dawn was breaking, we passed through
a kind of _nek_ of rough stones bordering the flat land, and emerged
into a compact body on to the edge of the grassy plain. Here the word
was given to halt for a reason that became clear to me so soon as I was
out of the rocks. For there, marching rapidly, not half a mile away,
were some five hundred white-robed men. A large proportion of these
were mounted, the best being foot-soldiers, of whom more were running
up every minute, appearing out of bush that grew upon the hill-side,
apparently to dispute our passage. These people, who were black-faced
with fuzzy hair upon which they wore no head-dress, all seemed to be
armed with spears.

Presently from out of the mass of them two horsemen dashed forward, one
of whom bore a white flag in token that they came to parley. Our advance
guard allowed them to pass and they galloped on, dodging in and out
between the camels with wonderful skill till at length they came to
where we were with Harut and Marut, and pulling up their horses so
sharply that the animals almost sat down on their haunches, saluted by
raising their spears. They were very fine-looking fellows, perfectly
black in colour with a negroid cast of countenance and long frizzled
hair which hung down on to their shoulders. Their clothing was light,
consisting of hide riding breeches that resembled bathing drawers,
sandals, and an arrangement of triple chains which seemed to be made
of some silvery metal that hung from their necks across the breast and
back. Their arms consiste