A HEATED DISCUSSION. 109 
with me, but is afraid of Dick, and also wishes for 
his wages, as Dick urges him to get them, though 
he knows Dick will appropriate them. He will let 
it be arranged before the king, he says. The sun 
set as I trekked, and the peculiar aloe -like trees 
of this country had a fine effect against the glow- 
ing sky. I should say this trek is four and a half 
or five miles pretty direct. The last two days have 
been fine drying days, but still there are some very 
soft places in the road. Supped with Fairbairn on 
some excellent beef, and had a long chat with him. 
Cool, starlight night, with heavy dew. 
''Jaimary 22d. — Fine hot day, but with slight 
clouds, and at night a heavy shower. Fairbairn had 
a row in trading with the king, who had chaffed him 
a good deal last night. A large quantity of ivory had 
come in (Fairbairn was here by the king's express 
desire, to trade), and a small tooth had been put 
down before him. He had made his ofTer for it, 
which did not satisfy the king. Fairbairn said, ' It 
is a small tooth.' * Did you ever shoot as large a 
one ? ' asked the king. This is considered a poser. 
Then a hot argument ensued between Fairbairn and 
the king, through John, the king maintaining that 
Fairbairn would show unequivocal signs of fear at 
the sight of an elephant. Fairbairn said white men 
were not afraid of them ; whereupon the king cited, 
H , a big man, who had not even shot a little 
calf; W , 'Where are the elephants he shot?' 
Many white men had said the same as Fairbairn, 
and where were the elephants they had killed ? Then 
