:11:07
Africa is far from being the hell
depicted in writings from the colonies.
:11:13
Where I expected
to encounter gfierce beasts...
:11:16
I fiind only dogs, cows, chickens...
:11:19
and the occasional duck.
:11:21
Where I expected ferocious savages...
:11:23
armed with spears, lances
and poisoned arrows...
:11:27
ready to turn all travelers
into a quick meal...
:11:30
I meet only peaceful villagers...
:11:32
whose pastoral lives remind me...
:11:35
of the country folk
in many parts of our own land.
:11:43
The only dangers I battle here
are boredom...
:11:46
and the company
of a handful of our compatriots...
:11:49
with whom I must rub elbows.
:11:54
Listen,just because it's my turn
to be on watch tonight...
:11:57
you don't have to take
such a long siesta.
:11:59
Don't worry.
There's lots more for you.
:12:10
The bastard!
:12:14
Where are those empire builders...
:12:17
those modern-day knights
and intrepid pioneers...
:12:20
that all those adventure novels
had us dreaming of?.
:12:32
Payback!
:12:34
So I feel quite alone here.
:12:36
Moreover, it's been six months...
:12:39
since we've had any visitors
or correspondence.
:12:42
It seems such delays are not unusual
in this part of Africa.
:12:46
But I'm longing to know
what is happening in Paris these days.
:12:50
What are they playing
at the theater and the opera?
:12:53
What is Debussy composing?
What is Peguy up to?
:12:56
And what's new
with our socialist friends?
:12:59
As for the colonies,
tell our friends not to be so sure...