i8o 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT chap. 



small number we had taken was not nearly enough 

 even to reward him for his services, and that people 

 like ourselves should not be satisfied with anything 

 less than all we could possibly take. Upon entering 

 the territory of the Embe, he had asked to be released 

 from his bonds. I told him this would be very danger- 

 ous for him, as his home was some distance over the 

 Embe country, and should we be forced to fight the 

 Embe, they would take revenge upon him after our 



Mode of carrying the Sick 



departure ; but that, as they could see he was our pris- 

 oner, bound, and unable to make his escape from us, 

 he would be absolved from our actions. This struck 

 him as an excellent argument, and throughout our stay 

 with the Embe (a period of five days) he never un- 

 fastened the rope from his body, but walked about 

 camp with the end trailing on the ground, seemingly 

 proud of his appendage, and looking for all the world 

 like one of his arboreal ancestors. 



Upon reaching an open glade, we had a palaver with 

 the Embe and assured them of our peaceful intentions. 



