A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



the same justice out of his own country as in it; and 

 however this may be, it is perhaps natural that local 

 officials should have more sympathy for their own 

 people than for strangers. 



Immediately after breakfast we proceeded to the 

 African Lakes Company's store, and, assisted and 

 financed by the courteous and obliging manager, 

 we started paying off the men. Headed by the 

 machiila teams, each man came up in turn to 

 receive the balance of pay due to him, after the 

 advances he had received en route had been 

 deducted. An interpreter was present to explain 

 the accounts, but there were no disputes. The 

 unspoilt African native is very honest in matters of 

 this sort, and is able to recollect perfectly such 

 sums as may have been given him. After all had 

 received their pay they were again paraded to be 

 given three weeks' "posho" for their return journey; 

 this done, their " backsheesh " was handed to them. 

 An honorarium for work well done, in addition to 

 the stipulated wage, is an excellent institution, and 

 much appreciated; it encourages zeal and enables 

 good men to be distinguished from bad ones. 

 More or less trivial offences, which it is unwise 

 entirely to overlook, are bound to arise from time 

 to time in a large caravan. A fine as punishment is 

 impossible to recover at the time the offence is 

 committed, and to do so at the end of a journey 

 from wages earned during its course is unfair as 

 well as illegal; whereas "backsheesh," being purely 

 a voluntary present, is a suitable medium for the 

 purpose. 



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