CHAPTER VIII

OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN CAPTIVITY

The small stock of tobacco I had with me when I was captured was very soon exhausted, and the problem of how to get more became an urgent one, for smoking was our greatest solace. The other prisoners, some of whom had comparatively large stores, were very generous, and we tried to be as economical as possible, but the stock steadily dwindled, and by the middle of 1915 real European tobacco was a rarity, and we were reduced to smoking the native product. This was made up into pats weighing not quite a kilo each, and apparently prepared by putting the dried leaves into a mortar with a little water, pounding them almost to a pulp, and then pressing into cakes. The water used was very muddy, and the finished product was consequently full of grit. We used to wash it, and then dry it again, before attempting to smoke it. It had a curious, indescribable flavour, and a really abominable smell, but luckily the latter was not noticed by the smoker, only by those in his vicinity! One of the missionaries was the first to try it, and when I smelt the unspeakable aroma I vowed nothing would induce me to use the stuff! But when, for lack of decent tobacco, I had abstained from smoking for nearly a month, the craving became so imperative that I decided to try it. By the time I had managed to get through one pipeful I was of the opinion that if not exactly pleasant it was tolerable, and in the end all the smokers used it. Such is the force of habit, that I personally came quite to like it. It was retailed at a rupee a pat, and the small native shop which supplied the village soon sold out and had to import more from Tabora.

For my after-dinner cigarette I was for a long time dependent on the missionary who sat at my table. His was not the type of cigarette to which we are accustomed at home. The brand was called “Palm Tree,” and made in South Africa—I believe for native consumption. They were very strong and reminded me of Brazilians. But soon the supply of these, too, was exhausted, and none of any description could be obtained until the Greeks, of whom there were many in the Colony, started the manufacture of cigarettes made from the native tobacco with a small admixture of Turkish. Of this latter there was a limited supply, also grown in the Colony, and they had obtained the monopoly. The “fags” were not bad, but rather expensive, costing five rupees a hundred; and later, when the better-class tobacco was becoming exhausted, the price rose to ten, and even twelve rupees. It is said the Greeks made quite a lot of money out of this business.

I have stated that we all four arrived at Kilimatinde quite penniless, and the reader will be wondering where we obtained the money to pay for our small luxuries.... I must confess that (Oh, shades of the Nonconformist conscience!) we made it by _gambling_! The miners and some of the planters used to play poker of an evening, and for some time we were content to look on. Then one day S—— borrowed some money and took a hand, and he was so successful that by bedtime he was able, not only to repay the loan, but to retain a good balance. Fired by this tempting example, the next evening we all borrowed from him and hurled ourselves into the fray. Luckily, from our first venture we all emerged a little to the good, and thereafter, although we had occasional reverses, our fortunes never really looked back. If any of our syndicate had a bad night and lost, it became the custom to chastise him in various ways—and this helped to make us careful!

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Our first Christmas in captivity was, from the point of food, not so bad; and let me here beg of the reader to try and realise the enormous importance to the captive of that particular point of view. Free men and women have such a multiplicity of interests and occupations that it would indeed be shameful for them to attach undue significance to mealtimes. Then, too, they can go out to a Club or a restaurant, and there order what they fancy, or they may plan with an expert cook a dainty _menu_ for the celebration of some special occasion; but think how different is the case of the prisoner and exonerate us from the charge of gluttony.

On the 25th of December, then, Frau Mahnke bestirred herself and provided us with quite a good midday meal, at least it was satisfying, and in the evening we had our own special spread. Most of the planters had saved up some of the tinned delicacies which they had brought with them from their homes, and we officers were invited to dine with W—— and his party. A table lighted with small Christmas-tree candles, and decorated with the purple bloom of Bougainvillia, was, in honour of the occasion, set out in the _baraza_. Mrs. W——, the only lady of our party, had put on an evening gown, and some of the men had dress-suits, but we had to content ourselves with our khaki. As there was no gin or sherry available, nips of whisky had to serve as an _aperitif_. Then for dinner there was cold chicken, with pickles and potato salad; one of Huntley and Palmer’s cakes took the place of plum-pudding or mince-pies, and cold sardines formed a savoury. Not much of a Christmas dinner, perhaps, but if the fare was scanty we brought the true festive spirit to the board, and the drinks were above reproach. We had two bottles of champagne, one of Dom, and one of whisky!

Frau Mahnke had solemnly promised us a Christmas pudding, and we had expected it to be served up at the midday meal; but as it did not then materialise, we looked for it in the evening. But that pudding took us all by surprise! It turned up—served cold in slices like cake—on the _tea_-table, of all places! All the same, it was not half bad plum-duff.