WITH FLASH-LIGHT AND RIFLE 



manjaro, but has been only partially successful. How 

 difficult it is to collect the weapons may be seen from 

 the following instance: A chief had repeatedly been 

 ordered to deliver the fire-arms in the possession of 

 his tribe to the military station. He denied that they 

 had any. When summoned and closely questioned, he 

 admitted there were four, which were surrendered. 



- The officials had reliabk information that there were 

 still quite a number of rifles hidden in the chief's dis- 

 trict. They kept him a prisoner, and told his people 



, that he would only be released if all arms were given 

 up. Seventy-eight more pieces were brought to the 

 station, and the chief was set free. No doubt only a 



. small fraction of the fire-arms possessed by the tribe 

 had been given up. 



The war just now being carried on against the Hereroes 

 in German West Africa should teach the German colo- 

 nial government a valuable lesson. It is impossible to 

 garrison a wild country like German East Africa, which 

 is twice as large as Germany, much less to wage a suc- 

 cessful war if the natives are fairly well armed, as there 

 are over six millions of them against twelve hundred 



. Europeans. 



The natives cherish their fire-arms very much indeed, 

 and, from their point of view, cannot be blamed for 

 their unwillingness to give them up. They make hunt- 

 ing very easy, either for a living or in the service of 

 traders in skins and teeth. Besides, they can use them 



408 



