EL BOGOI TO MOMBASA 



433 



about with their hundred-weight tusks, to show off before their 

 admiring female friends. Indeed, it is often difficult to get 

 them along at all, so proud and excited are they at entering 

 their metropolis again after all the adventures of so long a 

 journey ; and custom allows the " kilangozi " (or leading 

 porter) to refuse to move until backsheesh of rupees has been 

 sent to entice him to proceed with the caravan to deposit their 

 loads at the custom-house. That done, I give each man a 

 rupee by way of " posho " for the day, and they disperse to 

 make merry among their friends in the town. A weighty bag 



Mombasa. 



(From a Photograph by Major Eric Smith.) 



of silver has to be ready for them when they reassemble at my 

 quarters the following morning to receive their pay. Careless, 

 confiding fellows these porters ; they make no attempt to 

 calculate how much is due to them nor ever think of counting 

 over what they receive. The one whose name is called holds 

 out the corner of his cloth for the double handful of rupees, 

 twists it up without a word, and off he goes — in most 

 instances to squander recklessl)- the reward of a year or more's 

 service. 



I had no deductions to make from my men's wages, except 

 for the advances they had before starting on the expedition ; 



2 F 



