302 
PLUNDERING AFRICANS. 
one of our troopers immediately went off and seized 
it. The woodman, returning, followed the trooper 
to the Kashalla, and falling clown, and throwing 
dust over his head, begged for his axe as for his life. 
The Kashalla could not withstand the appeal, and 
ordered his trooper to restore the axe. The fellow 
had concealed the axe, and it was lucky the owner 
discovered the thief so soon. The poor man went 
away very thankful, thanking me also. I believe I 
may be some check on these depredations, for I told 
my interpreter last night that I never saw a village, 
or any people, pillaged in the Christian countries ; 
in fact, that I could not have hitherto believed that 
men could do the things which I saw done that day 
by the servants of the Kashalla. It is probable he 
will mention what I said to some one, and it will get 
to the ears of the said Kashalla. The Africans, in 
plundering one another, appear as if they were 
avenging some old grudge ; as if they remembered 
the various occasions when they themselves had been 
pillaged. They rob with wonderful gusto. 
A monotonous uniformity begins to prevail over 
all these tracts. I am afraid I shall soon get tired 
of this negro population and these towns, all built 
and all peopled in the same manner. They seem 
remarkably curious at first, but curiosity soon 
palls. 
We have with us the Hajah, mentioned before. 
She is very quiet, being passee, and also afraid of the 
Sheikh's people. 
