LAST JOURNEY TO THE COAST 
social engagements invariably clashed with Gouba’s 
industrial projects, and between them they made the 
camp very hot. To see her running with Gouba after 
her was a memorable sight. Of course, no Englishman 
likes to see a woman knocked about, but from what 
Ow-bow used to tell us, I am persuaded that Gouba 
was a sorely-tried man, and I should not be surprised 
to hear that by this time he has arranged a divorce on 
Henry the Eighth’s plan, and that Mrs. Gouba is now 
no more. 
But to return to our Parliament. I finally carried 
my point and engaged the carriers, but, alas! it was 
only by committing the only act of perfidy which I 
can lay to my conscience in all my dealings with 
natives. I found that if we were to get out of the 
country safely I must offer some further inducement, 
other than the ordinary articles of trade, and accord- 
ingly, although I had no intention of contravening the 
Government regulations so far, I said that a gun would 
be included in the wages of those who went down to 
Pokama. When the time came for this promise to be 
made good, I simply explained that the Government 
would not permit me to give them the gun. ‘They 
acquiesced quite cheerfully, and consented to re- 
ceive compensation in other articles. That there 
was no discontent or resentment, I am_ persuaded, 
and I had ample proof of this in my final parting 
from my followers, which I shall relate in its proper 
place. 
We now returned to Ekeikei, and on arrival there 
passed from the land of starvation to the land of 
abundance; hunting was once more possible, and 
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