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!
* * * * *
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.