HEADMAN’S EXCUSES FOR NOT MARCHING 69 
delay us another night, by saying that the men had no 
water, and that the river- water was too thick to use, which 
of course was all nonsense, as a little alum would soon set 
all right ; hut I had also seen a pool of still water, which I 
offered to show them. However, seeing I was bent on 
proceeding, they set off for the water without me. 
The men were now becoming very troublesome, and the 
excuses put forward by my headman for not marching were 
always very lame. First of all it was, ' Two men got 
stomach-ache, they no march then it was, ‘ No water ’ or 
‘ Too much water.’ Next, ‘ Lart (lot) camels seek (sick),’ 
yet he would always add : ‘ I shall tek you straight 
Boorgha country, no stop.’ It was only by being firm 
that I could make them do what I wished ; yet I hated to 
see them loading up the camels grumbling, growling, and 
swearing at each other, and probably at me, and kicking 
the poor animals as if they had been the cause of it. 
My headman came and said, as a last resource : 
‘ If rain come, how we cross river upstairs (up the 
hill) ?’ 
I answered : ‘ If rain comes we will camp on this side of 
the river.’ 
At length back came the camels I had sent for the water 
I had spoken about, and accordingly off we started up a 
steep and rocky mountain pass and down on the other side. 
When my shikaris and I had reached the bottom, we waited 
for the camels, and presently they appeared, headed by one 
of the biggest villains I have ever met, namely, my head- 
man, who with a broad grin on his face walked up and said, 
in his most jovial manner, ‘ Sick camel dead !’ and then 
stood and grinned another horrid smile, as if he had con- 
veyed the most pleasing intelligence. 
I was certain he was lying and had sold my camel to 
natives, who appear everywhere like vultures, and swoop 
down upon a caravan like magic. How they know of one’s 
approach I can’t conceive, unless they have sentries con- 
tinually on the watch. (My boy a few days afterwards 
