RECRUITING. 155 



segregated. Then we went over this picked lot 

 again. This time we tried not only to get good 

 specimens, but to mix our tribes. At last our 

 count of twenty-nine was made up, and we took 

 a deep breath. But to us came one of them 

 complaining that he was a Monumwezi, and that 



we had picked only three Monumwezi, and 



We cut him short. His contention was quite 

 correct. A porter tent holds five, and it does not 

 do to mix tribes. Reorganization ! Cut out 

 two extra Kavirondos, and include two more 

 Monumwezi. " Bass ! finished ! Now go get 

 your effects. We start immediately." 



As quickly as it had filled, the street cleared. 

 The rejected dived back into their huts, the 

 newly enlisted carriers went to collect their bag- 

 gage. Only remained the headman and his 

 fierce-faced assistants, and the splendid youths 

 idling up and down none of them had volun- 

 teered, you may be sure and the damsels of 

 leisure beneath the porticos. Also one engaging 

 and peculiar figure hovering near. 



This individual had been particularly busy dur- 

 ing our recruiting. He had hustled the men into 

 line, he had advised us for or against different 

 candidates, he had loudly sung^my praises as a 

 man to work for, although, of course, he knew 



