We Stay at Blantyre 



Porters should carry the same thing day by day, 

 as this saves both time and trouble ; they then 

 know where to find their loads in the morning, how 

 to tie them up in the most convenient fashion, and 

 where to put them on arrival in camp. Those who 

 carry such things as bedding, beds, tables, chairs, 

 etc., will soon get into the way of helping the 

 servants pack them, and will take quite an interest 

 in their loads, often pointing out anything they 

 think is wrong. The post of kitchen-porter is much 

 sought after, as it carries with it perquisites in kind. 



The machilla teams vary in number. A , 



whose men had harder work and a heavier load 

 than mine, had sixteen men ; I had twelve. 



A 's team — Angoulu natives from Portuguese 



territory — were a very good-tempered set of men, 

 who carried him well and worked hard. They 

 were of fine physique, and each wore a red fez as 

 a distinguishing mark. They were great meat 

 eaters, and, according to the Nyasaland boys, 

 would eat anything; in fact, we fear, in days gone 

 by, their tribe had been addicted to cannibalism. 



My machilla boys were Angonies, much smaller 

 men, but very active and full of fun. In order to 

 distinguish them from the porters I gave them 

 red sashes, thereby leading them into much ex- 

 travagance, for the smart new material made them 

 feel ashamed of the ragged old loin cloths over 

 which the sashes were displayed, so that at the 

 first opportunity they asked for an advance of wages 

 with which to purchase new garments. 



The man in charQ^e of the team is called ''the 



