26 THE LAND OF THE LION 
slight) of its most real thing —its people. We are far, 
too far, away from our fellowmen as it is, and we do not 
want, when it can be avoided, any widening of the distance 
between us and them, by unnecessary employment of inter- 
mediaries. Then, of course, your chosen agent has his 
ideas of how things should be managed, how the men 
should be treated, how fed, how led, how camped; and if 
you leave these matters to him, in all justice, you are bound 
to give him your support. Even if you find after a time 
that things are going on around you that you disapprove 
of, it is difficult to make a change on sefari — like swapping 
horses while crossing a stream —it is a hazardous under- 
taking. You had best leave matters alone till you make 
a fresh start. From the beginning, the men know that some 
one man is really responsible. Chopping and changing 
about they don’t understand. A harsh leader is much 
better than no leader at all. 
But why not face the business yourself? You are 
really responsible for every man who marches with you. 
You are their guide, protector, doctor, magistrate, and 
friend. You cannot hire anyone to discharge these duties. 
for you. You are more than all these — you are a visible 
embodiment and illustration of the great unknown outside 
world to these poor black folk —a world that has given 
them so far few of its good men, and many of its bad, a 
world that has harried, tormented, enslaved, dispossessed, 
and slaughtered them as it seemed best to its most ungodly 
wisdom. As you treat them, as you hold yourself before 
them, they will judge of it and you. English rule has 
already done them good in many ways, and they know 
it. But then it has also taken from them much that they 
value, and insists on still taking. Their lands are being 
steadily taken away. I don’t say for a moment that this 
shouldn’t be. I hold it most reasonable that good land, 
lying untilled or half tilled, should be put to the best use; 
