148 THE LAND OF THE LION 



But, on the other hand, many, many sportsmen are both 

 ignorant and unreasonable. They blunder along any way, 

 caring nothing for their men, knowing nothing of them; 

 trusting to some intermediary, some hired hunter or ser- 

 vant, to look after the wants of the sefari, no provision for 

 serious sickness, no extra porters for an emergency, no 

 previous arrangement about base of supplies. Their own 

 "chop boxes " are filled, their own food certain. They seem 

 to care for little else. Most of the pain and discontent 

 they cause is dumb; no outcry reaches them, and so they 

 pass on their way. "The hunting was good, but as to the 

 natives, they are a discontented, thieving set, they are 

 glad to be rid of them." 



Another thing that needs looking after, from time to 

 time, is the loading of the porters. Carry a spring weigh- 

 ing machine, and now and then weigh the loads yourself. 

 Some, otherwise good, headmen show favouritism, they 

 are only human; you are your porters only protection against 

 a possibly unfair discrimination. If you, yourself, see, just 

 now and then, that the loads are fairly divided, there will be 

 no need, whatever, for you to be constantly questioning your 

 headman's judgment, for he, as well as every man in your 

 company, will recognize, that you mean to allow no favour- 

 itism, and fair play will be the rule. 



When several days' potio has been served to the sefari, 

 it is always worth while to look sharply at the toto's loads. 

 This is the time when the poor little fellows are likely to 

 be cruelly overloaded. If you find one in such a case, 

 take off his extra burden, and put it on the man or men 

 who hired him. This always has an excellent effect, and 

 saves constant "koboko," which is a mistake. See, by the 

 way, when you are paying off your sefari, that the totos 

 on it are paid then and there. The men disperse, in a few 

 moments, they are soon lost in the bazaar. I have had to 

 go to much trouble, more than once, to have a poor little 



