A HEATED DISCUSSION. 109 



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. 



"January 22a 7 . — 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 offer 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 

 Fairbairn referred to Selous, a small man ; he had 

 not been afraid, he said. ' Would he tell if he had 

 shown signs of fear, or were you there to see?' asked 



