THE LAST FRONTIER 



so important in itself as an excuse for the punish- 

 ment. For when your men get sulky, you watch 

 vigilantly for the first and faintest excuse to inflict 

 punishment. 



This game always seemed to me very fascinating, 

 when played right. It is often played wrong. 

 People do not look far enough. Because they see that 

 punishment has a most salutary effect on morale, and 

 is sometimes efficacious in getting things done that 

 otherwise would lag, they jump to the conclusion 

 that the only effective way to handle a safari is by 

 penalties. By this I do not at all mean that they 

 act savagely, or punish to brutal excess. Merely 

 they hold rigidly to the letter of the work and the 

 day's discipline. Because it is sometimes necessary 

 to punish severely slight infractions when the men's 

 tempers need sweetening, they always punish slight 

 infractions severely. 



And in ordinary circumstances this method un- 

 doubtedly results in a very efficient safari. Things 

 are done smartly, on time, with a snap. The day's 

 march begins without delay;, there is a minimum of 

 straggling; on arrival the tents are immediately got 

 up and the wood and water fetched. But in a tight 

 place, men so handled by invariable rule are very apt 

 to sit down apathetically, and put the whole thing 

 up to the white man. When it comes time to help 



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