DESERTION OF PORTERS 



51 



sucli as the Zanzibar! ever were and ever would be, and that 

 they never would have behaved as they had but for the pombe 

 they had drunk. So we did not insist on the taking away of 

 the weapons, especially as the men, worn out with fatigue, were 

 soon reduced to absolute quietude by falling asleep. 



The next morning we were, as usual, roused by the noisy 

 preparations for the day's march, the monotonous cries of the 

 Askari as they saddled the donkeys, and the loud shouts of the 

 guides as they gave their orders. As usual. Count Teleki 

 gave the signal to start, and when everything appeared ready 

 placed himself at the head of the people, who seemed to file 

 forth into a long line more quickly than ever before, as if they 

 were anxious to make up by extra zeal to-day for their mis- 

 demeanours of 3^esterda3^ But, alas ! the fact could not long- 

 be disguised, as the village became empty, that fifty loads were 

 left upon the ground, their bearers having availed themselves 

 of the darkness of the night to slip oiF. And round about the 

 bales and cases squatted the villagers, protected up to their 

 chins from the early morning freshness by their kaniki cloths, 

 gloating upon the position in which I was left. Vainly I 

 offered them large sums if they would but help to take these 

 loads as far as Kwa Fungo, our next halting-place ; the fair 

 sex alone, with their natural tender-heartedness, were ready to 

 help me, tested the weight of the packages, and even began 

 to bargain with us about taking them ; but in the end they did 

 not dare go against the orders of their lords and masters. At 

 last I begged the chief of the village to find me some porters ; 

 but he only shrugged his shoulders scornfully, and said he had 

 no porters, nor could he get any. There was nothing for it 

 but to leave these loads behind ; and even that this chief would 

 not agree to. Then I quite lost patience, seized the man by 

 the arm, and shaking him as hard as I could, I told him through 

 an interpreter that he would either take the loads at once to a 



E 2 



