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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what kind of fish did Elspeth compare the men lounging in the shade in the middle of the day?

2. What animal did Elspeth worry would attack her pony, Twinkle?

3. What color was Ian's Somali shawl?

4. How many goats did Tilly say the District Commissioner would fine Kupanya if the curse were not lifted?

5. What did Hereward ask Robin for help in moving?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways did Elspeth find the siafu (warrior ants) the most frightening and mysterious of Africa's creatures?

2. How did Elspeth view the planned hunt versus the actual hunt?

3. How did the adults try to comfort Elspeth when she could not go on the safari, and did it work?

4. How did the Palmer's house differ from the Huxley's residence?

5. Describe how Elspeth viewed the dead leopard.

6. How did the Europeans view the difference between a bribe and a tip?

7. Why did the District Commissioner find it difficult to keep locals out of the prison?

8. How did Lettice Palmer view Hereward's desperate attempts to impose discipline on his workers?

9. Why did Robin agree with the Italian priests in their refusal to baptize or help Njombo?

10. Why were the villagers so concerned about the python near the village?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Elspeth Huxley described in detail the process of leaving Thika to return to England during the war. Write an essay describing the attitudes displayed by both the natives and the European settlers as the war descended. How were people on each side of the cultural divide affected by their experiences? How did the natives view the Huxley family?

Essay Topic 2

After Njombo killed a man in a fight, he had to pay a blood price to the victim's family in the form of goats. Write an essay discussing this method of justice. How did this system help keep the peace for the locals? How did the natives maintain peace and order (they were also known not to steal from one another) if there was no threat of arrest or prison? Why was Hereward Palmer determined to introduce Western-style justice to Africa? How would a trial and prison have affected both Njombo and the tribe as a whole? Can there be different cultural approaches to justice? Or is justice black and white?

Essay Topic 3

The Huxleys encountered two "foreign" concepts in marriage during their stay in Africa--the notion of a "bride-price" paid to the prospective bride's family, and polygamy. Discuss how these two practices could have impacted the society in Thika. What would have been accomplished by Njombo paying a family for a bride? Why was he not allowed to marry her without sufficient goats to give? Did the woman appear to have any say in the matter? How did the multiple wives live? What were the European attitudes toward these practices?

(see the answer keys)

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