THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 139 



quarreling and maltreating the slaves. The majority were con- 

 tinually intoxicated, and in this condition amused themselves by 

 promiscuous firing of guns, so that there was no safety from 

 stray bullets, one of which killed a little boy in Baker's party. 



Baker had remained in Gondokoro only a short time before he 

 observed a general discontent among his men ; its first outcrop- 

 ping was a demand made upon him for privilege to steal some 

 cattle from the natives for a feast; this being refused, they 

 threatened to steal such cattle as they wanted, regardless of 

 orders. Baker then had the men called for muster, and made 

 them a sharp address, but this only served to provoke an outburst 

 of insolence. The ringleader, named Elsar, was so impertinent 

 and violent, that Baker ordered him to be bound and given 

 twenty-five lashes. When an attempt was made to enforce this 

 order, a large number of the men came to Elsar' s assistance and 

 a mutiny was raised. There was now no other alternative than 

 for Baker himself to carry out the order, as any concessions 

 would have entirely destroyed his power over the men ; accord- 

 ingly he attempted to seize Elsar, when the savage black rushed 

 at him with a stick, eager for a fight. Baker accepted the 

 challenge, and with a powerful blow of his fist knocked him 

 sprawling on the ground and followed up his advantage by 

 administering a severe punishment with his boot. His savage 

 companions suffered their ringleader to be well castigated, 

 apparently awed at Baker's boldness ; but soon they rallied and 

 set upon him with sticks and stones. The affair would no doubt 

 have terminated seriously for Baker, had not his wife, seeing the 

 danger, rushed to the rescue, and by ordering the drums beaten, 

 stopped the fray. A settlement of the difficulty was effected by 

 Baker remitting the further punishment of Elsar upon condition 

 that the mutineer should kiss his hand and apologize. 



This incident proved to Baker how unreliable his men were, 

 and that to take such a force with him into Africa would only 

 invite danger and defeat his objects, although the men swore 

 fidelity again, and Elsar declared that he would stand before his 

 master and receive every arrow rather than have him injured. 



