MANAGING A SAFARI 



ing all with the tough withes; then deftly they 

 thatched it with the grass. Almost before we had 

 settled our own affairs, M'ganga was standing be- 

 fore us smiling. Gone now was his mien of high 

 indignation and swirling energy. 



"Banda naquisha," he informed us. 



And we moved in our table and our canvas chairs; 

 hung up our water bottles; Billy got out her fancy 

 work. Nothing could be pleasanter nor more ap- 

 propriate to the climate thnn this wide low arbour, 

 open at either end to the breezes, thatched so thickly 

 that the fierce sun could now^here strike through. 



The men had now settled down to a knowledge of 

 what we w^ere like; and things were going smoothly. 

 At first the African porter will try it on to see just 

 how easy you are likely to prove. If he makes up 

 his mind that you really are easy, then you are in 

 for infinite petty annoyance, and possibly open 

 m.utiny. Therefore, for a little while, it is necessary 

 to be extremely vigilant, to insist on minute per- 

 formance in all circumstances where later you might 

 condone an omission. For the same reason punish- 

 ment must be more frequent and more severe at the 

 outset. It is all a matter of watching the temper of 

 the men. If they are cheerful and willing, you are 

 not nearly as particular as you would be were their 

 spirit becoming sullen. Then the infraction is not 



165 



