366 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST A ERICA 
CHAP. 
the Bumi tusks as his right; while one of the strongest among 
those who were accustomed to follow him in the van had been 
somewhat aggrieved at not being allotted one from the first. 
I had told him then that I hoped a tusk worthy of him would 
yet be found, and so it was with considerable satisfaction that 
I now conferred the coveted favour upon him by pointing to 
the biggest of all—a few pounds heavier even than the yellow 
one carried by the “ kilangozi ”—as his burden, amid general 
laughter. 
I think this shows what nonsense it is to talk of the 
cruelty of using men as beasts of burden, and the absurdity of 
restricting, by vexatious regulations, the weight of a porter’s 
load to fifty or sixty pounds or some such ridiculous limit. 
Here were my men competing eagerly with each other for 
my permission to shoulder tusks weighing about a hundred¬ 
weight apiece, and the disappointed ones asking me in injured 
tones where was their “ pembe ” (horn). This, knowing that 
there was a journey of some seven hundred miles before us, 
the greater part through pathless tracts, over rugged hills 
strewn with sharp rocks, among thorny scrub and thick grass, 
often for long stretches with no water, and all under the fierce 
heat of the equator. They get no extra pay for carrying these 
heavy tusks ; and the only little privilege they enjoy is never 
being asked to carry their own rations, as the others have to 
sometimes for several days, and perhaps getting the preference 
in the matter of meat. Their chief reward, to which they look 
forward during the whole long journey, is the proud moment 
when they enter Mombasa, decked out gaily with flowing red 
cloths (their customary perquisite), and march through the 
streets with their glistening white burdens, showing off before 
the admiring crowds. Men who are not able, without any 
strain or inconvenience, to carry a far heavier burden than 
the “ bara”). He has much to do with regulating the pace of the caravan, and has great 
influence with the other porters ; so that keeping him contented and cheerful tends to 
make things work smoothly and counteract any possible friction. 
