176 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



CHAPTER VIII 



THE CARAVAN, HEADMAN, GUN-BEARERS, ETC. 

 BY F. J. JACKSON 



THE sportsman having decided on the districts which he in- 

 tends to visit, and on the time to be spent approximately in each, 

 and having obtained all the latest information as to the quantity 

 and quality of goods required for barter purposes, presents, &c., 

 the caravan (' safari ') must be got together and organised. The 

 first thing to be done is to engage a really good headman 

 (' neapara '). Should the sportsman be fortunate enough to have 

 such a one recommended to him who both knows the country 

 and his work the latter being far more important than the 

 former it would be advisable to engage him even though the 

 pay he demands be high. So much depends on the headman 

 that a really good one is worth a dozen who call themselves 

 neapara, but who in reality are little better than porters. A 

 good neapara not only knows his position in the caravan, but 

 will take care to maintain his authority and command respect 

 from those under him. One who hob-nobs and plays cards 

 with the porters and this is by no means an uncommon prac- 

 tice soon loses all control over them, and will become weari- 

 some with his complaints of their insubordination and indo- 

 lence. The duties of a headman are not only to look after his 

 master's property, but to see that everybody else does his duty, 

 and he is responsible for the general working of the caravan. 

 The headman superintends the buying of food and the issuing of 

 ' posho' (daily allowance of food) to the men. In this matter, 



