THE LAST FRONTIER 



how a country is run. Nevertheless, I may perhaps 

 be pardoned for suggesting that the Government 

 would strengthen its hand, and aid its few straggling 

 settlers by adopting this native view of retributions. 

 For instance, at present it is absolutely impossible 

 to identify individual sheep and cattle stealers. 

 They operate stealthily and at night. If the Gov- 

 ernment cannot identify the actual thief, it gives 

 the matter up. As a consequence a great hardship 

 is inflicted on the settler, and an evil increases. 

 If, however, the Government would hold the vil- 

 lage, the district, or the tribe responsible, and exact 

 just compensation from such units in every case, 

 the evil would very suddenly come to an end. And 

 the native's respect for the white man would climb 

 in the scale. 



Once the safari man gets confidence in his master, 

 that confidence is complete. The white man's duties 

 are in his mind clearly defined. His job is to see 

 that the black man is fed, is watered, is taken care of 

 in every way. The ordinary porter considers him- 

 self quite devoid of responsibility. He is also an 

 improvident creature, for he drinks all his water 

 when he gets thirsty, no matter how long and hot the 

 journey before him; he eats his rations all up when 

 he happens to get hungry, two days before next dis- 

 tribution time; he straggles outrageously at times 



172 



