Out of Africa Book Four, From an Immigrant's Notebook: From "Kitosch's Story" to "The Parrot" Summary & Analysis

A young native named Kitosch is flogged severely by a white settler after the settler believes that Kitosch rode his horse without permission. The settler then ties Kitosch up in his store and Kitosche dies that night. A trial is held to determine if the settler is guilty of murder, manslaughter, or grievous hurt.

During the trial, another servant testifies that the flogging made Kitosch deaf, but the Kitosch still could speak. He had confessed his wish to die. A few hours later he was dead. Two doctors testify that Kitosch died because he willed it to be so, not because of physical abuse, but these doctors had not see his body. The doctor who had seen the body testifies that Kitosch died from physical abuse. The jury finds the settler guilty of grievous hurt and sentences him to two years.

The narrator finds beauty in the idea that Kitosch could have willed himself to die. She feels that Africans are always about to elude European control, such as in this case, by dying.

Many unique birds live in Africa: nightingales, storks, plovers, cranes, and hornbills. All of these birds have their colors and characteristics. Once the narrator sailed to Europe on a boat carrying a load of pretty pink flamingoes. During the trip, she learned that their delicate nature could not stand the journey and as many as two per day died.

The narrator thinks that her deerhounds have a sense of humor. Once her hound, Pania, alerted her to a dangerous Serval-cat in a tree, which the narrator promptly shot. The next time they pass under the same tree, Pania again barks. When the narrator goes to shoot the cat, however, she sees that it is nothing but a domestic cat. Looking down, she sees Pania giggling with laughter. Pania often giggles as he sleeps, perhaps remembering the incident.

Esa, the cook, inherits a black cow because his brother has died. Esa decides to use the cow to get a new wife. The narrator thinks a new wife unnecessary since Esa is old and already has a wife. But Esa soon returns with a young wife, Fatoma. Fatoma is not a good wife. She almost immediately runs away to the barracks of native officers in Nairobi and Esa, shamefully, must go get her. Soon after, Fatoma poisons Esa to death. Fatoma disappears and is never held accountable, even though a meeting is held on what to do.

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