START 'ON SAFARI' 39 



no difficulty in getting forty-five, but the last five 

 are as shy and as hard to gain as the last few runs 

 of a cricketer's century. Afterwards I found it a 

 good plan to give out that I wanted twice as many 

 porters as I really had need for ; then, if there was 

 a surplus, it was possible to weed out some of the 

 feebler brethren. Then they must all be taken in 

 a body to the Collector and be registered, but it is 

 quite likely that before they get so far as that they 

 will refuse to go unless they are paid a rupee more 

 than they had agreed to accept. In the Congo 

 Free State there is a regular tariff for certain 

 distances, or for so many days' journey ; but in 

 Uganda you must make the best bargain you can, 

 and the porters are well aware of the fact. 



But there came a day when the tale of porters 

 was complete, and all the stores, down to the veriest 

 tin-opener, were packed up, and on Christmas Eve 

 I went * on safari ' at last. 



