A TOOTHSOME DISH.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 150, 21 December 1929, Page 23

A TOOTHSOME DISH.

Mr. Alex.. Johnston, brother of the late Sir Harry Johnston, has written the life of that famous explorer of Africa. It is published by Jonathan Cape. Included is a story of Sir Harry's attendance' as an honoured guest at a great native banquet. At the conclusion o£ the feast there was a solemn hush, as though for grace A great shell, filled with a pinkish paste, was passed from hand to hand like a loving cup. First the Elders of the tribe partook and then presented it to their white brother. He put a big pinch on his tongue and swallowed it, as they had done, and noted that it -was saltish and pleasant to the taste. But Sir Harry (writes his biographer) was never content to perform any action or see one performed of which he did not understand fully the nature and purport. So he asked: "Is this goat that I have eaten?" "It is not." "Is it pig?" "It is not." "Is it fowl, or perhaps tender monkey?" "It is neither." "With what, then, have you regaled me?" "It is man. It is our Great Chief and Father, with whom you are now one—bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, a blood brother to us indeed."