44 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



who cannot appreciate it, was more obvious every 

 day. To secure speed and contentment, I had in- 

 dulged the pagazis by hiring double numbers, and 

 giving each only half a recognised burden ; but what 

 has been the return? Yesterday the pagazis stopped 

 at the eighth mile, because they said that so large a 

 jungle was in our front that we could not cross it 

 during daylight. I disbelieved their story, and gave 

 them to understand, on submitting to their request, 

 that I was sure their trick for stopping me would 

 turn to their own disadvantage; for if my surmise 

 proved true, as the morrow would show, I should 

 give them no more indulgence, and especially no more 

 meat. On our arrival to-day there was a great hub- 

 hub amongst them, because I ordered the jemadar 

 and kirangozi, with many of their principal men, to 

 sit in state before me ; when I gave a cloth to the 

 soldiers to buy a goat with, and, turning to the kiran- 

 gozi, told him I was sorry I was obliged to keep my 

 word of yesterday, and, their story having proved 

 false, I must depart from the principle I had com- 

 menced upon, of feeding both parties alike, and now 

 they might feel assured that I would do nothing 

 further for their comfort until I could see in them 

 some desire to please me. The screw was on the ten- 

 derest part : a black man's belly is his god ; and 

 they no sooner found themselves deprived of their 

 wonted feast, than they clamorously declared they 

 would be my devoted servants ; that they had come 



