366 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



the Bumi tusks as his right ; while one of the strongest among 

 those who were accustomed to follow him in the van had been 

 somewhat aggrieved at not being allotted one from the first. 

 I had told him then that I hoped a tusk worthy of him would 

 yet be found, and so it was with considerable satisfaction that 

 I now conferred the coveted favour upon him by pointing to 

 the biggest of all — a few pounds heavier even than the yellow 

 one carried by the " kilangozi " — as his burden, amid general 

 laughter. 



I think this shows what nonsense it is to talk of the 

 cruelty of using men as beasts of burden, and the absurdity of 

 restricting, by vexatious regulations, the weight of a porter's 

 load to fifty or sixty pounds or some such ridiculous limit. 

 Here were my men competing eagerly with each other for 

 my permission to shoulder tusks weighing about a hundred- 

 weight apiece, and the disappointed ones asking me in injured 

 tones where was their " pembe " (horn). This, knowing that 

 there was a journey of some seven hundred miles before us, 

 the greater part through pathless tracts, over rugged hills 

 strewn with sharp rocks, among thorny scrub and thick grass, 

 often for long stretches with no water, and all under the fierce 

 heat of the equator. They get no extra pay for carrying these 

 heavy tusks ; and the only little privilege they enjoy is never 

 being asked to carry their own rations, as the others have to 

 sometimes for several days, and perhaps getting the preference 

 in the matter of meat. Their chief reward, to which they look 

 forward during the whole long journey, is the proud moment 

 when they enter Mombasa, decked out gaily with flowing red 

 cloths (their customary perquisite), and march through the 

 streets with their glistening white burdens, showing off before 

 the admiring crowds. Men who are not able, without any 

 strain or inconvenience, to carry a far heavier burden than 



the " bara"). He has much to do with regulating the pace of the caravan, and has great 

 influence with the other porters ; so that keeping him contented and cheerful tends to 

 make things work smoothly and counteract any possible friction. 



