The British: Here and There
Dahl kicks off this memoir of life in Africa with a critique of the “peculiar Empire-building breed of Englishman who spends his whole life working in distant corners of the British territory.” Rather ironically, just a page or two later he then moves the focus of his criticism to that segment of those very same people who “go barmy” from spending too long and diving too deep into foreign culture or, as Americans know it, “go native.”
Germophobia
Miss Trefusis is a germophobe who noticeable eats oranges with a knife and fork, lecturing the author on the evils of filth and infestation while he watches. He notes that despite her concern, she ironically fails to realize that while she realizes she only washes her hands rather than sterilizes, she apparently overlooks at the knife and fork are only washed instead of sterilized as well.
U.N. Savory
U.N. Savory is the unusual name of Dahl’s ship cabinmate. He is a member of the Sikh religion which places such a high spiritual value upon hair that they let it continue to grow to great lengths rather than cut it. Ironically, Dahl finds out in a very memorable scene, U.N. Savory is actually quite bald and must wear wigs in order to avoid disrespect.
The Truth about the Serum
After his plane crash, Dahl undergoes surgery in the hospital where he is to be the first patient upon which the practicing surgeon ever uses a new anesthetic which had been described as “the greatest discovery since chloroform.” Dahl is told he will lapse into unconsciousness so quickly and seamlessly he won’t experience the sensation at all. Ironically, Dahl never loses consciousness, forcing the surgeons to use the same nitrous oxide they had been using all along.
Kill Hitler, Save Millions
Mdisho, a Mwanumwezi tribal warrior, is learning from Dahl about the dark storm clouds forming on the horizon which will eventually—but have not yet—resulted in world war. Dahl instructs that war is inevitable because the “Germani” believe Hitler is great fellow while much of the rest of the world recognize him as a maniac. Mdisho inquires why, if this is the case, the rest of the world doesn’t strike first, catch the “Germani” by surprise and end this fellow Hitler before he can start a war. Dahl replies: “I am afraid we have very strict rules about war…nobody is allowed to kill anyone until the whistle blows and the game is officially started.” Mdisho recognizes the irony right away: “In a war there are no rules! Winning is all that counts.”
