After selling back the camel he had stolen from us the day before and accepting our invitation to a midnight feast of roast goat, the next morning Billa walked away carrying his life’s possessions- saddle with high cantle and fringed leather skirt, ditty bag, hippo hide whip, blanket, wooden club, and Enfield rifle with a black pompom at the muzzle. Maybe he didn’t have far to walk, maybe he did. It all depended on when the next dabouka would pass and he could steal another camel.
©David Melody