CHAP. III.] 
RICHARN FAITHFUL. 
131 
place I trusted to fortune. I arranged that the drome¬ 
daries should carry a few heads, ammunition, and the 
astronomical instruments. 
Richarn said the idea was very mad; that the natives 
would do nothing for beads; that he had had great 
experience on the White Nile when with a former 
master, and that the natives would do nothing without 
receiving cows as payment; that it was of no use 
being good to them, as they had no respect for any 
virtue but “ force; ” that we should most likely be 
murdered; but that if I ordered him to go, he was 
ready to obey. 
“ Master, go on, and I will follow thee, 
To the last gasp, with fiuth and loyalty.” 
I was delighted with Richarn’s rough and frank fidelity. 
Ordering the horses to be brought, I carefully pared 
their feet—their hard, flinty hoofs, that had never felt 
a shoe, were in excellent order for a gallop, if necessary. 
All being ready, I sent for the chief of Gondokoro. 
Meanwhile a Bari boy arrived from Koorshid to act as 
my interpreter. 
The Bari chief was, as usual, smeared all over with 
red ochre and fat, and had the shell of a small land- 
tortoise suspended to his elbow as an ornament. He 
brought me a large jar of merissa (native beer), and said 
K 2 
