palm oil to rub themselves with. Here again, teamwork was employed, and M'dong's hand anointed Tamboura's back, rubbing the oil deep down into his pores, so that his body shone like polished ebony.
Then, and most welcome of all, they were fed with a plentiful stew of meat and vegetables, flavored with salt and little peppers. It was served in large wooden bowls— one bowl to each four men—^with round thin circles of cassava bread to mop it up. Between Tamboura, Sabumbo, M'dong and Khandago, there was no quarreling for the chunks of meat. They showed their village training by each graciously insisting that his neighbor take the largest piece and their only remarks were words of disapproval of him who took the smallest. After they had finished the stew, they were given limes to suck and water to drink and told that they could sleep again.
His stomach full, his body clean and oiled, his arms and legs unrestrained, Tamboura lay down on the hard planks contented and happy. His village and all that it contained had receded far into the background and the first poignant nostalgia had been dissipated. He slept soundly and dream-lessly until, in the pre-dawn chill, he awoke to find himself shivering and crept closer to M'dong who, without waking, pulled Tamboura close to him and with some mumbled words enveloped him in his arms. Secure in his friend's warmth and protection, Tamboura slept again until the bright sun made him open his eyes.
The whole compound was stirring and the sleepy slaves sat up one by one and hung their legs over the edges of the shelves. Tamboura extricated himself from the tightly enveloping arms and legs of M'dong and slid down from the shelf. Sabumbo and Khandago were already awake and up, sitting on the edge of their bunk, contentedly scratching themselves in the sun. They saw the big door open and a huge, steaming cauldron wheeled in. As Tamboura was the youngest, it was his lot to take their bowl across to have it filled. Embarrassed by a healthy morning erection, he hesitated to go until he saw that most of the men were in a like condition. Comparing himself with the others and noting his own superiority, he joined in the procession, strutting pridefully and a little arrogantly to the laughing comments of his fellows. While he waited for his bowl to be filled, his tumescence subsided. But even in this condition, he noted that he still had the advantage, and he walked back to his companions as peacock-proud as he had left them.
This morning there was no meat, but the food was warm and tasted good and it filled their stomachs comfortably. After they had finished eating, the doors of the barracoon opened to admit a procession so strange and unusual to Tamboura and his companions that they could only regard it with eyes wide and mouths agape. There were so many things they had never seen before that it seemed they had been transported to a land of miracles. Several of the factory slaves carried in a strange wooden affair, painted white. It consisted of a wall of boards, higher than a man's head, atop a platform which was about waist-high from the ground and had two steps leading up to it. The white background of boards had horizontal black and red stripes running the width of it, which was about that of a man with his arms extended.
As though this marvel were not enough, other slaves appeared lugging a huge wooden stool, gaily trimmed with feathers, colored silks and beads, which they set down a few paces in front of the strange wooden affair. Then came another stool, this one as big as the first but devoid of decorations, which was placed beside the first. Following this, two more slaves entered, each bearing a huge umbrella, one of a plain, dark green stuff and the other as gaily ornamented as the stool. Another black entered with a low table, agleam with brightly polished brass things which he
48 kyle onstott
placed between the two big stools, and the slaves with umbrellas took up their positions
Then, and most welcome of all, they were fed with a plentiful stew of meat and vegetables, flavored with salt and little peppers. It was served in large wooden bowls— one bowl to each four men—^with round thin circles of cassava bread to mop it up. Between Tamboura, Sabumbo, M'dong and Khandago, there was no quarreling for the chunks of meat. They showed their village training by each graciously insisting that his neighbor take the largest piece and their only remarks were words of disapproval of him who took the smallest. After they had finished the stew, they were given limes to suck and water to drink and told that they could sleep again.
His stomach full, his body clean and oiled, his arms and legs unrestrained, Tamboura lay down on the hard planks contented and happy. His village and all that it contained had receded far into the background and the first poignant nostalgia had been dissipated. He slept soundly and dream-lessly until, in the pre-dawn chill, he awoke to find himself shivering and crept closer to M'dong who, without waking, pulled Tamboura close to him and with some mumbled words enveloped him in his arms. Secure in his friend's warmth and protection, Tamboura slept again until the bright sun made him open his eyes.
The whole compound was stirring and the sleepy slaves sat up one by one and hung their legs over the edges of the shelves. Tamboura extricated himself from the tightly enveloping arms and legs of M'dong and slid down from the shelf. Sabumbo and Khandago were already awake and up, sitting on the edge of their bunk, contentedly scratching themselves in the sun. They saw the big door open and a huge, steaming cauldron wheeled in. As Tamboura was the youngest, it was his lot to take their bowl across to have it filled. Embarrassed by a healthy morning erection, he hesitated to go until he saw that most of the men were in a like condition. Comparing himself with the others and noting his own superiority, he joined in the procession, strutting pridefully and a little arrogantly to the laughing comments of his fellows. While he waited for his bowl to be filled, his tumescence subsided. But even in this condition, he noted that he still had the advantage, and he walked back to his companions as peacock-proud as he had left them.
This morning there was no meat, but the food was warm and tasted good and it filled their stomachs comfortably. After they had finished eating, the doors of the barracoon opened to admit a procession so strange and unusual to Tamboura and his companions that they could only regard it with eyes wide and mouths agape. There were so many things they had never seen before that it seemed they had been transported to a land of miracles. Several of the factory slaves carried in a strange wooden affair, painted white. It consisted of a wall of boards, higher than a man's head, atop a platform which was about waist-high from the ground and had two steps leading up to it. The white background of boards had horizontal black and red stripes running the width of it, which was about that of a man with his arms extended.
As though this marvel were not enough, other slaves appeared lugging a huge wooden stool, gaily trimmed with feathers, colored silks and beads, which they set down a few paces in front of the strange wooden affair. Then came another stool, this one as big as the first but devoid of decorations, which was placed beside the first. Following this, two more slaves entered, each bearing a huge umbrella, one of a plain, dark green stuff and the other as gaily ornamented as the stool. Another black entered with a low table, agleam with brightly polished brass things which he
48 kyle onstott
placed between the two big stools, and the slaves with umbrellas took up their positions
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