28 THE LAND OF THE LION 



things. The Afrikander is but an uncertain bird of passage. 

 He does not care for the land or for anything in it. He 

 wants money. As soon as he has that, his one idea is 

 to go home to the old land that he does love. The Boer 

 alone wants to make a home. But his home must be one 

 after his own mind and plan. The best land and immense 

 tracts of it he wants, and with all his silent, obstinate 

 nature, he determines to have it. The native and his 

 rights are nothing whatever to him. He will not crush 

 him out of existence, for he needs his labour to cultivate 

 his farm and tend his cattle. But without one particle 

 of scruple he will kick him out of his way. And the Boer 

 as England knows by now, can kick very hard indeed. 

 So when six weeks from London you may find yourself in 

 a country where till two years ago, in some parts of it at 

 least, white man's feet had never come, among people 

 strange and new, yet so friendly that you are safe, so far 

 as they are concerned from danger, as you would be in 

 London, and far less likely to be robbed than you would be 

 in New York. Then look kindly on them. Study them, 

 as well as Ward's valuable book on record "heads," and 

 make up your mind for good or for bad to run your own 

 sefari. If this is your decision, then tell your agent at 

 Nairobi that above all other things they must give you a 

 really honest, reliable "headman." They can do this; 

 there are several such on their books. They procured 

 David Rebman for me, and a better headman capable, 

 experienced, kind, and thoughtful with his porters there 

 is not in the country. Your headman will make you or 

 mar you. The problem of potio is quite beyond even the 

 most painstaking investigator at first. You will have 

 to do as you are told, and get the hang of it as soon as you 

 can. At the beginning of sefari life, you will have to be 

 guided by your headman. Show him your baggage. 

 Tell him roughly what you wish to do and whence you go. 



