Chap. XIV. HE-ADJUSTMENT OF BAGGAGE. 283 



way back. These parting presents always produced 

 a good effect, both on the people I dismissed and the 

 fresh ones I was about to engage. The Aponos 

 departed in good humour and full of thanks. We 

 were all glad to get rid of these troublesome though 

 well-meaning Aponos, as we then thought them ; 

 but we found I'eason afterwards to regret them, as 

 they were far better workers than the lazy Ishogos. 



June 20th. The diminution of my stores necessitated 

 a re-arrangement of the loads. All the otaitais (porters' 

 baskets) were opened, and the contents re-sorted. 

 This travelling life is not a lazy one ; I am busy 

 from morning till night, and the quiet hours after the 

 people have retired to rest are the only time I have 

 for writing my journal, projecting my route, and 

 writing out three copies of my astronomical and other 

 observations. In the daytime, besides the time 

 wasted in almost incessant palavering, I am beset by 

 crowds of gaping villagers from sunrise to sundown. 

 At night I have got into the habit of waking fre- 

 quently and going out to watch for chances of taking 

 observations for longitude and latitude ; chances not 

 of frequent occurrence in this cloudy climate at this 

 time of the year. 



These savages do not seem to sleep at night, for 

 they sing and dance and beat their tam-tams until 

 morning. They seem to be afraid of darkness, be- 

 lieving that night is the time when the spells of 

 witchcraft are the most potent. 



June list. I engaged eighteen Ishogo porters, pay- 

 ing them, as customary, their wages beforehand, and 

 promising them further pay if they performed their 



