The Washington times., 1908-07-19
HOUSEKEEPING HARD
IN AFRICAN WILDS
Trying to Keep Dry Under
a Roof That Leaked
Streams.

We christened our house The Barn"
Its walls and floor were poor IN plane
surfaces; they bulged unexpectedly.
The floor IN particular was various in
its levels, so that 70 the end OF our
time the dining table was apt 10 prance
rakishly On two legs ike some exhila-
rated quadruped. There was no cell
ing. and from the old matched roof
gambling snakes and rats shook down
unsavory particles upon our food. Dur
ing the rains this thatch leaked in
spOUts OF muddy water ike the nose
OF a watering pot, 80 that there was
practically no dry spot in the bedrooms,
and in time 1 became accustomed to
sleeping under a macintosh and UNI
brelIa- Ventilated roofs OF this nature
were not uncommon in the station
Dining out one night. a thunderstorm
came on with the dessert, and We fin
ished dinner crowded into one COMPARE
lively dry corner, with our feet tucked
up off the floor, while a procession Of
baths. basins. and jugs took our places
around the hOspitable board. Though
our host apOlOgized perfunctOrily for
the noisy entry Of his bath. no one
seemed 10 regard the proceedings as at
all unusual
Calico Windows
The windows OF our dwelling house
were meager Sits with calico nailed
across them instead Of glass, but We
had four excellent doorways- To one
door there was a lock and key, another
possessed a handle the third had no
fastening al all, and the fourth did not
exist. Every night we methodically
turned our only key in its lock, deter
mined that such a luxury should not
want recognition. but there was nothing
20 prevent all the burglars in Uganda
from streaming through the other three
entrances, and I have always wondered
why on earth they never did So
From the moment OF our arrival at
The Barn" il became evident that ms
Tot I'm lie was TO contend hourly p-iIh
preds tory insects. which. Ike tropical
their nefariOus callings night and day,
unrestinE- Thus the war waged against
them WAS always a losing one. for WnIls
We slept they bit, chewed, and dc
Voured. they bored. tunneled and climb
cd, and We woke IN the morning 10 and
fresh ravages as the results OF their
nights zeal.
Plague Of Insects.
There were not only the usual mos
quitoes that led upon US, and the usual
hshtsH insects that cheved our wooden
clothing, and the usual cockroache- that
bIoated themselves on our siIkcn vest
ments. but there were others. There
were insects that sprang and insects
that did not spring; there were ticks Of
revolving outline; there were jigEers
who famed Us times without nurnber;
there were boring beetles who consci-
entiousiy miEed out the interior OF all
serVic cable wood till our chairs and
tables became hollow shams. tottCriug
/ TO destruction before our eyes. There
we're little ans who -swarmed up giddy
nights IN order 10 farten on butter,
| there mere big-bcdied, gluttonOus ants
who sWeilcd themselves on sugar eaten
| in secret, and-WOe was me.-thc-e
/ were whole empires OF white ants, who
4 fiOurisned their tunnels and traceries OF
red mud in every direction These were
] OmniVOrOus and Omnipresent- We could
I hang no pictures. for they ate thC1,
They ate my only waterproof and
I JhrOve upon II In my Ignorance Of
/ their bowers / put up a dado OF native
bark cloth 10 hide the marks OF thei7
| industry in our sitting room. and While
I was Gown with fever they ate tie
dadO IN spite Of incessant WatcLful-
/ ness anu daily JaDpinEs Of the walls
they defeated US continually. ana 10
/ this day / can think OF no more de-
/ tesJabie sound than the dry rafting
made by them II disturbed IN their
I crimes--Exchange