MY SECOND VOYAGE ON THE LAKE 61 



for he washed his hands of us and we saw no more of him. 

 He was one of the ringleaders of the recent disturbance 

 and ought to have been flogged for his insubordination. 

 Leniency with natives in the face of a misdemeanour is a great 

 mistake, for they do not understand it and mistake it for 

 weakness. There are four ways in which to punish them. 

 These are to flog, fine, cut down rations, or give field im- 

 prisonment. The first is the best in every case of infringe- 

 ment of discipline, and this should be determined by very 

 careful judgment in regard to the facts, for the black man 

 is quick to detect a miscarriage of justice. But where 

 nothing of this kind is involved he submits cheerfully and 

 goes through the ordeal with courage. 



A flogging at the commencement of one's command will 

 often do more good to the general discipline of one's party 

 than anything else, for it will act as a wholesome deterrent. 

 The saying — " give him an inch and he will take an ell," is 

 strongly applicable to the native, and this is very noticeable 

 in his dealings with the white man new to the country whom all 

 *' boys " are ready to impose upon at the outset. In regard 

 to fines, it is doubtful if they have much effect, for as the 

 wages are always booked, he feels no immediate embarrass- 

 ment and therefore his punishment is not brought home to 

 him on the spot, which is an essential thing to be observed 

 in the management of the natives. Another objection to 

 fines is that the natives think the white man is trying to make 

 money out of him. Of course, this can be counteracted by 

 throwing away before his eyes the fine he has incurred, which I 

 remember once seeing done by a certain government official 

 whom I met on the Benue. This officer had occasion to fine his 



