228 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



Natives are very sensitive to ridicule or sarcasm, and 

 a little of this will often act better than a good beating. 

 I do not believe in the use of the hippo whip called 

 " chikoti," for it is a most cruel implement when used 

 severely, and it should only be used in extreme cases. 

 There is no comparison between a few punches with the 

 fists and a dose of the " chikoti," which will cut a man 

 fearfully, and in some cases kill him if he happens to be 

 unwell. The use of a light boot occasionally or a smack 

 on the head is usually quite sufficient ; and if a boy 

 deserves beating often for lying or theft, he can be 

 dismissed, as there are generally plenty of others to take his 

 place. Of course, as in Europe, there are scoundrels that 

 deserve the whip, and there is no doubt that the natives 

 have been accustomed in the past to much more severe 

 treatment than they ever get from white men. 



There are two men living near me at present who lost 

 their ears in the old days, for theft ; and it was a common 

 thing to treat " kapolo " (slaves) in this way if they stole 

 from their masters. Other atrocities were common, and 

 the Awemba, in the northern parts of North-Eastern 

 Rhodesia, suffered much cruelty from their chiefs, but it 

 must be remembered that such treatment was the only 

 one the chiefs could exercise to keep their unruly followers 

 in hand. 



The milder and more civilised justice of the whites is 

 often laughed at by the natives, as what were considered 

 serious crimes long ago, such as theft, are hardly punished 

 at all. A man may steal pounds of sugar in a month for 

 which he may get a month's imprisonment, where he enjoys 

 better and more plentiful food than he usually gets in his 

 own home. Imprisonment is little punishment to a native, 

 as he does not feel it any disgrace ; in fact, he has a good 

 rest and plenty of food. Incarceration for a long period, 

 however, must be very irksome to a native, for being a 

 savage he likes freedom, and the separation from his wives 

 and children he must feel dreadfully, as all natives are 

 domestic creatures. 



