IN THE SWAMPS 169 



to be fathomed by the simple Occidental student. 

 Whatever Cheeta 's ambitions, however, they by 

 no means unfavorably influenced the discharge of 

 present duty, or loyalty to his master. Indeed, 

 too faithful attention to my interests was the only 

 complaint I had ever to lodge against him. 



In the Far East servants are carried free on 

 steamers, and for a very small fare on the rail- 

 road; so it is customary on a journey to take your 

 own servants, who guard your luggage and serve 

 you on shipboard or at the hotel. Now Oriental 

 servants as a rule are notorious thieves, and in no 

 way can one show his efficiency so well as by suc- 

 cessfully guarding his master's belongings against 

 the predatory assaults of fellow-servants, that sleep 

 always with one eye open for loot. On the first 

 trip Cheeta made he served me so signally as to 

 put me in dread of arrest for harboring stolen 

 property. We had disembarked at Kuala Selan- 

 gor, and after the night camp was made Cheeta, 

 with an obvious air of complacence, led me to 

 where our belongings were stored, pointing pride- 

 fully to the ensemble. As an old campaigner, my 

 kit is invariably reduced to a simple and practical 

 working basis, without auxiliary pots or pans, or 

 fancy culinary accessories. I was, therefore, 

 somewhat surprised to view several strange, lux- 

 urious appearing camp things, not to mention a 



