A TREK THROUGH BORNU 239 



the long, tedious process of tying up each case with 

 plaited grass rope, which is the practice round Fort 

 Lamy. 



In the Chad territories each boy rides the same 

 beast, which is more satisfactory for himself, the 

 owner, and the animal, for disasters rarely occur ; and 

 the average distance covered is at least a fourth, and 

 in our experience a third, as much again as that done 

 by the Bornuese cattle. 



In Nigeria the cowboy, or woman as the case may 

 be, usually walks behind and drives his animal in front 

 of him, with the result that one a little stupider or 

 wiser than its fellows wanders off the road and 

 scratches its back against some shrub and off come 

 both loads — a feat that is often accomplished even 

 without the help of the shrub. 



Five days' experience of these conditions did more to 

 break up our boxes than the previous six months. 



No doubt a short-sighted cheapness is gained by 

 the driving method, for it only takes one boy to 

 conduct a number of oxen, though his incapacity 

 is so marked that the economy is more apparent 

 than real. 



Few white men use bullock transport in Nigeria, 

 for they find oxen undependable, and carriers, or 

 labourers as they are here termed, are reliable for 

 continuous work. 



We bought some cattle, and they paid us, though 

 it was disappointing that the beautiful, long-horned 

 beasts were not as good carriers as their smaller, 

 uglier brethren. 



Probably it is not an invariable law that the white 

 official has to examine each bullock as it passes through 



