the land of footprints-µÚ21ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
My¡¡own¡¡horse¡¡had¡¡the¡¡legs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡others¡¡quite¡¡easily£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡that¡¡reason¡¡I¡¡was¡¡ahead¡¡far¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡magnificent¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡five¡¡lions¡¡sideways¡¡on£»¡¡all¡¡in¡¡a¡¡row£»¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡me¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡calm¡¡and¡¡impersonal¡¡dignity¡£¡¡I¡¡wheeled¡¡my¡¡horse¡¡immediately¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ready¡¡in¡¡case¡¡of¡¡a¡¡charge£»¡¡and¡¡yelled¡¡to¡¡the¡¡others¡¡to¡¡hurry¡¡up¡£¡¡While¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡there£»¡¡they¡¡moved¡¡slowly¡¡off¡¡one¡¡after¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡the¡¡men¡¡had¡¡come£»¡¡the¡¡lions¡¡had¡¡gone¡£¡¡We¡¡now¡¡had¡¡no¡¡difficulty¡¡in¡¡running¡¡into¡¡them¡¡again¡£¡¡Once¡¡more¡¡my¡¡better¡¡animal¡¡brought¡¡me¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lead£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡for¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time¡¡I¡¡drew¡¡up¡¡facing¡¡the¡¡lions£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡about¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡range¡£¡¡One¡¡by¡¡one¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡as¡¡before£»¡¡very¡¡leisurely¡¡and¡¡haughtily£»¡¡until¡¡a¡¡single¡¡old¡¡maned¡¡fellow¡¡remained¡£¡¡He£»¡¡however£»¡¡sat¡¡there£»¡¡his¡¡great¡¡round¡¡head¡¡peering¡¡over¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grass¡£
¡¨Well£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡¡¨here¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡do¡¡about¡¡it£¿¡¨
The¡¡others¡¡arrived£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡all¡¡dismounted¡£¡¡B¡£¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡killed¡¡his¡¡lion£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡shot¡¡was¡¡his¡£¡¡Billy¡¡very¡¡coolly¡¡came¡¡up¡¡behind¡¡and¡¡held¡¡his¡¡horse¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like¡¡here¡¡to¡¡remark¡¡that¡¡Billy¡¡is¡¡very¡¡terrified¡¡of¡¡spiders¡£¡¡F¡£¡¡and¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡the¡¡ready£»¡¡and¡¡B¡£¡¡sat¡¡down¡£
Riding¡¡fast¡¡an¡¡exciting¡¡mile¡¡or¡¡so£»¡¡getting¡¡chucked¡¡on¡¡your¡¡head¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡facing¡¡your¡¡first¡¡lion¡¡are¡¡none¡¡of¡¡them¡¡conducive¡¡to¡¡steady¡¡shooting¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡shot¡¡therefore¡¡went¡¡high£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡second¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡lion¡¡square¡¡in¡¡the¡¡chest£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡rolled¡¡over¡¡dead¡£
We¡¡all¡¡danced¡¡a¡¡little¡¡war¡¡dance£»¡¡and¡¡congratulated¡¡B¡£¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡a¡¡queer¡¡little¡¡gurgling¡¡gasp¡¡behind¡¡us¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡Fundi£¡¡¡That¡¡long¡legged¡¡scarecrow£»¡¡not¡¡content¡¡with¡¡running¡¡to¡¡get¡¡us¡¡and¡¡then¡¡back¡¡again£»¡¡had¡¡trailed¡¡us¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡our¡¡mad¡¡chase¡¡over¡¡broken¡¡ground¡¡at¡¡terrific¡¡speed¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡death¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡was¡¡just¡¡about¡¡all¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡death¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡barely¡¡gasp¡¡his¡¡breath£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡stuck¡¡out£»¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡close¡¡to¡¡apoplexy¡£
¡¨Bwana£¡¡¡bwana£¡¡¨¡¡was¡¡all¡¡he¡¡could¡¡say¡£¡¡¡¨Master£¡¡¡master£¡¡¨
We¡¡shook¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡Fundi¡£
¡¨My¡¡son£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I£»¡¡¡¨you're¡¡a¡¡true¡¡sport£»¡¡and¡¡you'll¡¡surely¡¡get¡¡yours¡¡later¡£¡¨
He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡understand¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡grinned¡£¡¡The¡¡gunbearers¡¡began¡¡to¡¡drift¡¡in£»¡¡also¡¡completely¡¡pumped¡£¡¡They¡¡set¡¡up¡¡a¡¡feeble¡¡shout¡¡when¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡lion¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡maned¡¡beast£»¡¡three¡¡feet¡¡six¡¡inches¡¡at¡¡the¡¡shoulder£»¡¡and¡¡nine¡¡feet¡¡long¡£
We¡¡left¡¡Fundi¡¡with¡¡the¡¡lion£»¡¡instructing¡¡him¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡there¡¡until¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡men¡¡came¡¡up¡£¡¡We¡¡remounted¡¡and¡¡pushed¡¡on¡¡slowly¡¡in¡¡hopes¡¡of¡¡coming¡¡on¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡others¡£
Here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡we¡¡rode£»¡¡our¡¡courses¡¡interweaving£»¡¡looking¡¡eagerly¡£¡¡And¡¡lo£¡¡¡through¡¡a¡¡tiny¡¡opening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡brush¡¡we¡¡espied¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡elusive¡¡gerenuk¡¡standing¡¡not¡¡over¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡away¡£¡¡Whereupon¡¡I¡¡dismounted¡¡and¡¡did¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡shooting¡¡I¡¡perpetrated¡¡in¡¡Africa£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡let¡¡loose¡¡three¡¡times¡¡at¡¡him¡¡before¡¡I¡¡landed¡£¡¡But¡¡land¡¡I¡¡did£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡one¡¡Lesser¡¡Hoodoo¡¡broken¡£¡¡Truly¡¡this¡¡was¡¡our¡¡day¡£
We¡¡measured¡¡him¡¡and¡¡started¡¡to¡¡prepare¡¡the¡¡trophy£»¡¡when¡¡to¡¡us¡¡came¡¡Mavrouki¡¡and¡¡a¡¡porter£»¡¡quite¡¡out¡¡of¡¡breath£»¡¡but¡¡able¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡scouting¡¡around¡¡and¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lions¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡leaving¡¡one¡¡up¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡to¡¡watch£»¡¡both¡¡had¡¡come¡¡pell¡mell¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡all¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡We¡¡pointed¡¡this¡¡out¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡called¡¡their¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡the¡¡brush¡¡was¡¡wide£»¡¡that¡¡lions¡¡are¡¡not¡¡stationary¡¡objects£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡unlike¡¡the¡¡leopard£»¡¡they¡¡can¡¡change¡¡their¡¡spots¡¡quite¡¡readily¡£¡¡However£»¡¡we¡¡remounted¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡look¡£
Of¡¡course¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡£¡¡So¡¡we¡¡rode¡¡on£»¡¡rather¡¡aimlessly£»¡¡weaving¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bushes¡¡and¡¡open¡¡spaces¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡we¡¡were¡¡all¡¡a¡¡little¡¡tired¡¡from¡¡the¡¡long¡¡day¡¡and¡¡the¡¡excitement£»¡¡and¡¡hence¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡listless¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡we¡¡were¡¡fairly¡¡shaken¡¡out¡¡of¡¡our¡¡saddles¡¡by¡¡an¡¡angry¡¡roar¡¡just¡¡ahead¡£¡¡Usually¡¡a¡¡lion¡¡growls£»¡¡low¡¡and¡¡thunderous£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡wants£»¡¡to¡¡warn¡¡you¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡about¡¡far¡¡enough£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡one¡¡was¡¡angry¡¡all¡¡through¡¡at¡¡being¡¡followed¡¡about¡¡so¡¡much£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡just¡¡plain¡¡yelled¡¡at¡¡us¡£
He¡¡crouched¡¡near¡¡a¡¡bush¡¡forty¡¡yards¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡switching¡¡his¡¡tail¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡that¡¡this¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sure¡¡premonition¡¡of¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡charge£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡before¡¡realized¡¡exactly¡¡what¡¡¡¨switching¡¡the¡¡tail¡¨¡¡meant¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡slow¡¡sweeping¡¡from¡¡side¡¡to¡¡side£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡domestic¡¡cat¡£¡¡This¡¡lion's¡¡tail¡¡was¡¡whirling¡¡perpendicularly¡¡from¡¡right¡¡to¡¡left£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡left¡¡to¡¡right¡¡with¡¡the¡¡speed¡¡and¡¡energy¡¡of¡¡a¡¡flail¡¡actuated¡¡by¡¡a¡¡particularly¡¡instantaneous¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡machinery¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡only¡¡the¡¡outline¡¡of¡¡the¡¡head¡¡and¡¡this¡¡vigorous¡¡tail£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡took¡¡instant¡¡aim¡¡and¡¡let¡¡drive¡£¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡affair¡¡sank¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight¡£
We¡¡made¡¡a¡¡detour¡¡around¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡lion¡¡without¡¡stopping¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡him£»¡¡shouting¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡and¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡carcass¡£¡¡Billy¡¡alone¡¡seemed¡¡uninfected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡now¡¡prevalent¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡we¡¡were¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡find¡¡lions¡¡almost¡¡anywhere¡£¡¡Her¡¡skepticism¡¡was¡¡justified¡£¡¡We¡¡found¡¡no¡¡more¡¡lions£»¡¡but¡¡another¡¡miracle¡¡took¡¡place¡¡for¡¡all¡¡that¡£¡¡We¡¡ran¡¡across¡¡the¡¡second¡¡imbecile¡¡gerenuk£»¡¡and¡¡B¡£¡¡collected¡¡it£¡¡¡These¡¡two¡¡were¡¡the¡¡only¡¡ones¡¡we¡¡ever¡¡got¡¡within¡¡decent¡¡shot¡¡of£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡sandwiched¡¡themselves¡¡neatly¡¡with¡¡lions¡£¡¡Truly£»¡¡it¡¡WAS¡¡our¡¡day¡£
After¡¡a¡¡time¡¡we¡¡gave¡¡it¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡measure¡¡and¡¡photograph¡¡our¡¡latest¡¡prize¡£¡¡It¡¡proved¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡male£»¡¡maneless£»¡¡two¡¡inches¡¡shorter¡¡than¡¡that¡¡killed¡¡by¡¡B¡££»¡¡and¡¡three¡¡feet¡¡five¡¡and¡¡one¡¡half¡¡inches¡¡tall¡¡at¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡My¡¡bullet¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡brain¡¡just¡¡over¡¡the¡¡left¡¡eye¡£
Now£»¡¡toward¡¡sunset£»¡¡we¡¡headed¡¡definitely¡¡toward¡¡camp¡£¡¡The¡¡long¡¡shadows¡¡and¡¡beautiful¡¡lights¡¡of¡¡evening¡¡were¡¡falling¡¡across¡¡the¡¡hills¡¡far¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡the¡¡Isiola¡£¡¡A¡¡little¡¡breeze¡¡with¡¡a¡¡touch¡¡of¡¡coolness¡¡breathed¡¡down¡¡from¡¡distant¡¡unseen¡¡Kenia¡£¡¡We¡¡plodded¡¡on¡¡through¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡quite¡¡happily£»¡¡noting¡¡the¡¡different¡¡animals¡¡coming¡¡out¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cool¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evening¡£¡¡The¡¡line¡¡of¡¡brush¡¡that¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Isiola¡¡came¡¡imperceptibly¡¡nearer¡¡until¡¡we¡¡could¡¡make¡¡out¡¡the¡¡white¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡the¡¡porters'¡¡tents¡¡and¡¡wisps¡¡of¡¡smoke¡¡curling¡¡upward¡£
Then¡¡a¡¡small¡¡black¡¡mass¡¡disengaged¡¡itself¡¡from¡¡the¡¡camp¡¡and¡¡came¡¡slowly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡prairie¡¡in¡¡our¡¡direction¡£¡¡As¡¡it¡¡approached¡¡we¡¡made¡¡it¡¡out¡¡to¡¡be¡¡our¡¡Monumwezis£»¡¡twenty¡¡strong¡£¡¡The¡¡news¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lions¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡us¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡huddled¡¡in¡¡a¡¡close¡¡knot£»¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡inclined¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡centre¡£¡¡Each¡¡man¡¡carried¡¡upright¡¡a¡¡peeled¡¡white¡¡wand¡£¡¡They¡¡moved¡¡in¡¡absolute¡¡unison¡¡and¡¡rhythm£»¡¡on¡¡a¡¡slanting¡¡zigzag¡¡in¡¡our¡¡direction£º¡¡first¡¡three¡¡steps¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡then¡¡three¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡stamp¡¡of¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡between¡£¡¡Their¡¡bodies¡¡swayed¡¡together¡£¡¡Sulimani¡¡led¡¡them£»¡¡dancing¡¡backward£»¡¡his¡¡wand¡¡upheld¡£
¡¨Sheeka£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡enunciated¡¡in¡¡a¡¡piercing¡¡half¡¡whistle¡£
And¡¡the¡¡swaying¡¡men¡¡responded¡¡in¡¡chorus£»¡¡half¡¡hushed£»¡¡rumbling£»¡¡with¡¡strong¡¡aspiration¡£
¡¨Goom¡¡zoop£¡¡¡goom¡¡zoop£¡¡¨
When¡¡fifty¡¡yards¡¡from¡¡us£»¡¡however£»¡¡the¡¡formation¡¡broke¡¡and¡¡they¡¡rushed¡¡us¡¡with¡¡a¡¡yell¡£¡¡Our¡¡horses¡¡plunged¡¡in¡¡astonishment£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡had¡¡hard¡¡work¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡their¡¡bolting£»¡¡small¡¡blame¡¡to¡¡'em£¡¡¡The¡¡men¡¡surrounded¡¡us£»¡¡shaking¡¡our¡¡hands¡¡frantically¡£¡¡At¡¡once¡¡they¡¡appropriated¡¡everything¡¡we¡¡or¡¡our¡¡gunbearers¡¡carried¡£¡¡One¡¡who¡¡got¡¡left¡¡otherwise¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡having¡¡Billy's¡¡parasol¡£¡¡Then¡¡we¡¡all¡¡broke¡¡for¡¡camp¡¡at¡¡full¡¡speed£»¡¡yelling¡¡like¡¡fiends£»¡¡firing¡¡our¡¡revolvers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡grand¡¡entry£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡grand¡¡reception¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡camp¡¡poured¡¡out¡¡with¡¡wild¡¡shouts¡£¡¡The¡¡dark¡¡forms¡¡thronged¡¡about¡¡us£»¡¡teeth¡¡flashing£»¡¡arms¡¡waving¡£¡¡And¡¡in¡¡the¡¡background£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Monumwezis£»¡¡their¡¡formation¡¡regained£»¡¡close¡¡gathered£»¡¡heads¡¡bent£»¡¡two¡¡steps¡¡swaying¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡stamp£¡¡¡two¡¡steps¡¡swaying¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡stamp£¡¡the¡¡white¡¡wands¡¡gleaming£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rumble¡¡of¡¡their¡¡lion¡¡song¡¡rolling¡¡in¡¡an¡¡undertone£º
¡¨Goom¡¡zoop£¡¡¡goom¡¡zoop£¡¡¨
XV¡£¡¡THE¡¡LION¡¡DANCE
We¡¡took¡¡our¡¡hot¡¡baths¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡to¡¡supper¡¡most¡¡gratefully£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡were¡¡tired¡£¡¡The¡¡long¡¡string¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡bearing¡¡each¡¡a¡¡log¡¡of¡¡wood£»¡¡filed¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡to¡¡add¡¡to¡¡our¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡fuel¡£¡¡Saa¡sita¡¡and¡¡Shamba¡¡knelt¡¡and¡¡built¡¡the¡¡night¡¡fire¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡little¡¡flame¡¡licked¡¡up¡¡through¡¡the¡¡carefully¡¡arranged¡¡structure¡£¡¡We¡¡finished¡¡the¡¡meal£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡whisked¡¡away¡¡the¡¡table¡£
Then¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡blackness¡¡beyond¡¡our¡¡little¡¡globe¡¡of¡¡light¡¡we¡¡became¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡confusion£»¡¡a¡¡rustling¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡£¡¡Through¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡could¡¡guess¡¡at¡¡movement¡£¡¡The¡¡confusion¡¡steadied¡¡to¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡rhythm£»¡¡and¡¡into¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡came¡¡the¡¡group¡¡of¡¡Monumwezis¡£¡¡Again¡¡they¡¡were¡¡gathered¡¡together¡¡in¡¡a¡¡compact¡¡little¡¡mass£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡they¡¡were¡¡bent¡¡nearly¡¡double£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡stripped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡red¡¡blankets¡¡about¡¡their¡¡waists¡£¡¡Before¡¡them¡¡writhed¡¡Sulimani£»¡¡close¡¡to¡¡earth£»¡¡darting¡¡irregularly¡¡now¡¡to¡¡right£»¡¡now¡¡to¡¡left£»¡¡wriggling£»¡¡spreading¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡abroad¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡repeating¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡two¡¡phrases£»¡¡or¡¡rather¡¡the¡¡same¡¡phrase¡¡in¡¡two¡¡such¡¡different¡¡intonations¡¡that¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡convey¡¡quite¡¡separate¡¡meanings¡£
¡¨Ka¡¡soompeele£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strongly¡¡appealing¡¡interrogation¡£
¡¨Ka¡¡soompeele£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡repeated¡¡with¡¡the¡¡downward¡¡inflection¡¡of¡¡decided¡¡affirmation¡£
And¡¡the¡¡bent¡¡men£»¡¡their¡¡dark¡¡bodies¡¡gleaming¡¡in¡¡the¡¡firelight£»¡¡stamping¡¡in¡¡rhythm¡¡every¡¡third¡¡step£»¡¡chorused¡¡in¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡rumbling¡¡bass£º
¡¨Goom¡¡zoop£¡¡¡goom¡¡zoop£¡¡¨
Thus¡¡they¡¡advanced£»¡¡circled¡¡between¡¡us¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡withdrew¡¡to¡¡the¡¡half¡¡darkness£»¡¡where¡¡tirelessly¡¡they¡¡continued¡¡the¡¡same¡¡reiterations¡£
Hardly¡¡had¡¡they¡¡withdrawn¡¡when¡¡another¡¡group¡¡danced¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡their¡¡places¡£¡¡These¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Kikuyus¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡discarded¡¡completely¡¡their¡¡safari¡¡clothes£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡came¡¡forth¡¡dressed¡¡out¡¡in¡¡skins£»¡¡in¡¡strips¡¡of¡¡white¡¡cloth£»¡¡with¡¡feathers£»¡¡shells¡¡and¡¡various¡¡ornaments¡£¡¡They¡¡carried¡¡white¡¡wands¡¡to¡¡represent¡¡spears£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡sang¡¡their¡¡tribal¡¡lion¡¡song¡£¡¡A¡¡soloist¡¡delivered¡¡the¡¡main¡¡argument¡¡in¡¡a¡¡high¡¡wavering¡¡minor¡¡and¡¡was¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡rumbling¡¡emphatic¡¡chorus¡¡of¡¡repetition£»¡¡strongly¡¡accented¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sheer¡¡rhythm¡¡of¡¡it¡¡was¡¡most¡¡pronounced£º
¡¨An¡gee¡¡a¡¡Ka¡¡ga¡¡An¡gee¡¡a¡¡Ka¡¡ga¡¡An¡gee¡¡a¡¡Ka¡¡ga¡¡Ki¡¡ya¡¡Ka¡¡ga¡¡Ka¡¡ga¡¡an¡¡gee¡¡ya£¡¡¨
Solemnly¡¡and¡¡loftily£»¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡fixed¡¡straight¡¡before¡¡them¡¡they¡¡made¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡passed¡¡before¡¡our¡¡chairs£»¡¡and¡¡withdrew¡¡to¡¡the¡¡half¡¡light¡£¡¡There£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡paces¡¡from¡¡the¡¡stamping£»¡¡crouching¡¡Monumwezis£»¡¡they¡¡continued¡¡their¡¡performance¡£
The¡¡next¡¡to¡¡appear¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Wakambas¡£¡¡These¡¡were¡¡more¡¡histrionic¡£¡¡They¡¡too¡¡were¡¡unrecognizable¡¡as¡¡our¡¡porters£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡too¡¡had¡¡for¡¡the¡¡lion¡¡discarded¡¡their¡¡work¡a¡day¡¡garments¡¡in¡¡favour¡¡of¡¡savage¡£¡¡They¡¡produced¡¡a¡¡pantomime¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day's¡¡doings£»¡¡very¡¡realistic¡¡indeed£»¡¡ending¡¡with¡¡a¡¡half¡¡dozen¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡swaying¡¡bodies¡¡swinging¡¡and¡¡shuddering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡long¡¡grass¡¡as¡¡lions£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡¡¨horses¡¨¡¡wove¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡¡among¡¡the¡¡crouching¡¡forms£»¡¡all¡¡done¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beat¡¡of¡¡rhythm¡£¡¡Past¡¡us¡¡swept¡¡the¡¡hunt£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡its¡¡turn¡¡melted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡half¡¡light¡£
The¡¡Kavirondos¡¡next¡¡appeared£»¡¡the¡¡most¡¡fantastically¡¡caparisoned¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lot£»¡¡fine¡¡big¡¡black¡¡men£»¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡rolling¡¡with¡¡excitement¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡captured¡¡our¡¡flag¡¡from¡¡its¡¡place¡¡before¡¡the¡¡big¡¡tent£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡rallied¡¡close¡¡about¡¡this£»¡¡dancing¡¡fantastically¡£¡¡Before¡¡us¡¡they¡¡leaped¡¡and¡¡stamped¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡their¡¡spears¡¡and¡¡shouted¡¡out¡¡their¡¡full¡voiced¡¡song£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡other¡¡three¡¡tribes¡¡danced¡¡each¡¡its¡¡specialty¡¡dimly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡background¡£
The¡¡dance¡¡thus¡¡begun¡¡lasted¡¡for¡¡fully¡¡two¡¡hours¡£¡¡Each¡¡tribe¡¡took¡¡a¡¡turn¡¡before¡¡us£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡give¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡next¡£¡¡We¡¡had¡¡leisure¡¡to¡¡notice¡¡minutiae£»¡¡such¡¡