SEFARI LIFE 



as yet no, not even in English territory a dawn- 

 ing perception of their rights, as these may exist, against a 

 white man. Momba's saying, as he looked at a picture, 

 gave well the native point of view: "The white man is 

 like God he can do what he likes." If they are unfairly 

 deprived of potio, or unjustly kobokoed, they may run 

 away, but, even if they do, they make no reprisals, and are 

 sure to leave their load behind them. They seldom make 

 a complaint against the white wrongdoer. 



One thing they strenuously object to, that is a reduction 

 in their potio, and each tribe wants when it can be got 

 its own sort of meal. The government, I think, has made 

 a mistake in entering on sefari regulations an order to get 

 rice potio. Rice is sometimes not obtainable, and is even 

 then excessively dear. Moreover, rice can not be at present 

 grown in the English Protectorate. Now good mealie 

 meal, well ground, is quite as nutritious, and not nearly so 

 costly, and can be grown everywhere. Were its cultivation 

 encouraged, much more grain would be raised, and money 

 now going in very large sums to German growers (for all the 

 rice comes from German East Africa) would come to natives* 

 living comparatively nearby, whose success in selling their 

 crop could not fail to have an encouraging effect on those 

 other natives who, sooner or later, must cultivate the land 

 in order to live, but who have not yet had the courage to 

 change their method of living, and make a beginning as 

 cultivators. 



This subject of potio is a very serious one, indeed the 

 all-important one, and needs further explanation. All 

 I will say here is, look ahead; don't put your sefari on half- 

 rations, unless you have to. When you do, explain every- 

 thing to the men, so that they all understand that your action 

 is not the result of niggardliness on your part. Under such 

 circumstances I have always found them most reasonable. 



* I understand this change has been made since I wrote. 



