154 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



another episode — such as a man being carried off — 

 enacted near my camp, so I ordered them, on pain 

 of instant dismissal, to make their camp secure. 

 No ! commands were equally useless ; each of 

 them considered that it was the other's duty 

 to obey them, so nothing was done. These 

 people were useful in their way, more, they were 

 remunerative companions, so I did not wish to drive 

 them off; thus I called Sunday into consultation on 

 the subject. Did he think that I should make his com- 

 panions strengthen the outworks of the Mantatees' 

 camp ? I asked. " No," most emphatically, " no, 

 " make them do it themselves." " But I have 

 ordered them to do it, and they have not obeyed 

 my instructions ! " I exclaimed. " Well, Bass, let 

 them be eaten." But I did not like this alternative, 

 and remonstrated with my henchman. After a 

 moment he said, " Suppose you do not say no ; 

 we put it all straight." "How?" I enquire. 

 " Slaught them." So two of the Zulus went into the 

 woods, and returned with armfuls of good supple 

 vines. Each of my followers took possession of 

 the most formidable rod he could find ; then Sunday 

 made a speech to the Mantatees. At first they 

 grinned, but when they saw he was in earnest, and 

 several had received an instalment of the chastise- 

 ment in store for them, they went to work with most 

 praiseworthy energy, and soon had a laager as im- 

 pervious as my own. The apparent chief among 



