They even made some sort of costume for me, but I could not wear it on account of the irritation it caused.
The natives would go miles to get fruit for the girls--wild figs, and a kind of nut about the size of a walnut, which, when ripe, was filled with a delicious substance looking and tasting like raspberry jam.

There was also a queer kind of apple which grew upon creepers in the sand, and of which we ate only the outer part raw, cooking the large kernel which is found inside.

I do not know the scientific name of any of these things.
I often asked the girls whether they had altogether despaired in the clutches of the cannibal chief; and they told me that although they often attempted to take their own lives, yet they had intervals of bright hope--so strong is the optimism of youth.

My apparition, they told me, seemed like a dream to them.
The natives, of course, were constantly moving their camp from place to place, leaving us alone for weeks at a time; but we kept pretty stationary, and were visited by other friendly tribes, whom we entertained (in accordance with my consistent policy) with songs, plays, recitations, and acrobatic performances.
In these latter Bruno took a great part, and nothing delighted the blacks more than to see him put his nose on the ground and go head over heels time after time with great gravity and persistency.

But the effect of Bruno's many tricks faded into the veriest insignificance beside that produced by his bark.