294 



DESERTION. 



they never expect, nor perhaps do they desire, ever 

 to see him again ; and their only object is to gauge 

 his generosity by extracting from him as much as 

 possible. This is the severest trial of temper, 

 for the explorer well knows that the end of his 

 outfit is the end of his journey. Whilst he 

 recognizes the absolute necessity of economy, the 

 disappointed chief, in high dudgeon, urges his 

 rights, perhaps with threats ; and certainly causes 

 all manner of delays and difficulties. The native 

 in charge of the caravan fears awkward conse- 

 quences, especially at times of war or draught, of 

 famine or pestilence, and complies with the de- 

 mand in secret, if prevented from acting openly, 

 out of his own purse if not from the public funds. 

 The over-worked traveller, scolding, storming, 

 and getting up temper to blood-heat when re- 

 quired, cannot watch every string of beads or 

 yard of cloth ; and some day a report is brought 

 to him that he is running short, when perhaps 

 the most interesting part of his journey is within 

 sight, and yet, for want of means, cannot be 

 explored. 



We found also an unmitigated evil in the 

 universal practice of desertion. The fickle and 

 inconsequent negro slave must, they say, run 

 away once in his life, and, like the liar of the 



