XVIII 
EL BO GO I TO MOMBASA 
433 
about with their hundred-weight tusks, to show off before their 
admiring female friends. Indeed, it is often difficult to get 
them along at all, so proud and excited are they at entering 
their metropolis again after all the adventures of so long a 
journey; and custom allows the “ kilangozi ” (or leading 
porter) to refuse to move until backsheesh of rupees has been 
sent to entice him to proceed with the caravan to deposit their 
loads at the custom-house. That done, I give each man a 
rupee by way of “ posho ” for the day, and they disperse to 
make merry among their friends in the town. A weighty bag 
Mombasa. 
(From a Photograph by Major Eric Smith.) 
of silver has to be ready for them when they reassemble at my 
quarters the following morning to receive their pay. Careless, 
confiding fellows these porters ; they make no attempt to 
calculate how much is due to them nor ever think of counting 
over what they receive. The one whose name is called holds 
out the corner of his cloth for the double handful of rupees, 
twists it up without a word, and off he goes — in most 
instances to squander recklessly the reward of a year or more’s 
service. 
I had no deductions to make from my men’s wages, except 
for the advances they had before starting on the expedition ; 
2 F 
