Also there
were many noises. Thus, the bearers who were shot had been handed over
to their companions, who disposed of them in a simple fashion, namely
by throwing them into the bush where they attracted the notice of
hyenas. Then the four wounded men who lay near to me groaned a good
deal, or when they were not groaning uttered loud prayers to their
local gods. We had done the best we could for these unlucky fellows.
Indeed, that kind-hearted little coward, Sammy, who at some time in
his career served as a dresser in a hospital, had tended their wounds,
none of which were mortal, very well indeed, and from time to time
rose to minister to them.
But what disturbed me most was the fearful hubbub which came from the
camp below. Many of the tropical African tribes are really semi-
nocturnal in their habits, I suppose because there the night is cooler
than the day, and on any great occasion this tendency asserts itself.
Thus every one of these freed slaves seemed to be howling his loudest
to an accompaniment of clashing iron pots or stones, which, lacking
their native drums, they beat with sticks.
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