African Nights Read online

  32. Emanuele and a spitting cobra

  33. Emanuele and a large python

  34. Going away. Emanuele’s last photograph

  35. Sveva at the graves

  36. Sveva and Wanjiru

  37. Sveva on her 8th birthday

  38. Lake Tanganyika: approaching the Mahali Mountains’ camp

  39. Emanuele at Magic Cove

  40. Paolo and Emanuele perched on an old dead tree on the edge of the Great Rift Valley

  41. Emanuele with green grass snakes

  42. Sveva on Leppy

  43. Night at Ol Ari Nyiro Springs: Sveva and Leah

  44. Laikipia: with the anti-poaching patrols

  45. Simon Itot

  46. Kuki and her dogs welcoming a plane landing at Kuti during an elephant count

  47. Sveva carrying a large tusk for the 1989 Ivory Fire

  48. Kuki and Sveva

  49. The nest on the Mukutan: only local materials were used to build it

  50. Kuki writing in her nest above the Springs

  Glossary

  Asante Thank you

  Askari Guard, night-watchman

  Akili Clever

  Arufu Smell

  Ayah Nanny

  Bhang, bhangi Marijuana

  Bila shaka Without fail

  Boma Enclosure made of thorn bushes

  Buibui Traditional dress for Muslim women

  Bunduki Gun

  Bwana Mr, husband

  Carissa Wild jasmine with edible berries

  Chinja Slaughter

  Chui Leopard

  Chùmvi Salt

  Desturi Custom

  Duka Shop

  Faru Rhino

  Fundi Craftsman, artisan

  Hapa Here

  Hapana No

  Ingine Another

  Jambo Hello

  Jangili Poachers, bandits

  Kaburi Grave

  Kamili Exactly

  Kanga Loose garment for women

  Kikapu Basket

  Kikoi Loose garment for men

  Kitanda Bed

  Kopje Small hill

  Kubwa Large

  Kufa Die, dead

  Kuja Come

  Kulia To the right

  Kumbuka Remember

  Kuona To see

  Kwaheri Goodbye

  Kwenda Go

  Lelechwa Wild sage

  Lugga Dried-up river bed

  Madafu Fresh coconut

  Maji Water

  Makuti Thatch made of palm leaves

  Manyatta Dwellings for a family group built within an enclosure

  Maramoja At once

  Marati Trough

  Mashua Boat

  Mboga Vegetable, cabbage

  Mbogani Clearing

  Mbusi Goat

  Mchanga Sand

  Memsaab Madam

  Mimba Pregnant

  Miti Tree

  Mlima Hill

  Mnyama Animal

  Muganga Witch-doctor, wizard

  Mugongo Back

  Muivi Thief

  Musungu European

  Mutamayo Wild olive

  Mutoto Child

  Mvua Rain

  Mwaka Year

  Napenda Like

  Ndege Bird

  Ndiyo Yes

  Ndovu Elephant

  Ngamia Camel

  Ngombe Cattle

  Ngurue Pig

  Ni shauri ya Mungu It is the will of God

  Njau Calf

  Nungu nungu Porcupine

  Nussu Half

  Nyama Meat

  Nyoka Snake

  Nyumba House, room

  Papa Shark

  Pembe Horn

  Pete Ring

  Poriti Mangrove poles

  Pole Sorry

  Pole-pole Slowly

  Rafiki Friend

  Roho Heart

  Rudi Return

  Saidia Help

  Samaki Fish

  Shamba Small farm, field

  Shauri Problem

  Shimu Hole

  Shuka Loincloth, shawl

  Simba Lion

  Taabu Problem

  Tafadhali Please

  Tangu Since

  Tena Again

  Upupa Hoopoe

  Wanawake Women

  Wasungu Europeans

  Zaidi More

  Acknowledgements

  A number of friends have encouraged and advised me during the writing of this book. I am particularly indebted to:

  Gilfrid Powys, for his total confidence in me; Chris Thouless, for his witty criticism and intelligent humour; Adrian House, for calling me a story-teller; Toby Eady, for his professional and brotherly support; John and Buffy Sacher, for the generosity with which they made me welcome again and again in their home in London; my Kenyan friends; the scores of people who wrote just to let me know that my earlier book had helped their own life in some way, and who asked me to continue to write.

  And, as ever, to Paolo and Emanuele, whose memory infuses my life with light and a sense of purpose.

  And to my daughter Sveva, for being here.

  THE BEGINNING

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  PENGUIN BOOKS

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 2Y3 (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

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  Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  www.penguin.co.uk

  First published by Viking 1994

  Published in Penguin Books 1995

  This edition published 2014

  Copyright © Kuki Gallmann, 1994

  Cover photograph: Ivan Mateev © Getty Images

  All rights reserved

  The moral right of the author has been asserted

  The Gallmann Memorial Foundation PO Box 45593, Nairobi, Kenya

  ISBN: 978-0-241-01840-8

  * ‘There goes my vessel with the black sails.’

  * ‘One often needs someone smaller than oneself.’

  * ‘The gods thought otherwise.’

  * ‘I could see nothing more, apart from your eyes.’