128 
LATOOKA THIEVES. 
[chap. y. 
evening the plain was alive with game, including 
buffaloes, zebras, and many varieties of large antelopes. 
It was a most enlivening sight to see them scouring 
over the plain as we advanced; but our large party, 
and three red flags streaming in the breeze, effectually 
prevented us from getting sufficiently near for a shot. 
I was sorely tempted to remain in this Elysium for a 
few days' shooting, but the importance of an advance 
was too great to permit of any thoughts of amusement; 
thus, I could only indulge a sportsmans feelings by 
feasting my eyes upon the beautiful herds before me. 
At a quarter-past seven we bivouacked in thick 
jungle. In the middle of the night, the watch-fires 
still blazing, I was awoke by a great noise, and upon 
arrival at the spot I found a number of the Turks with 
firebrands, searching upon the ground, which was 
literally strewed with beads and copper bracelets. The 
Latooka porters had broken open the bags and baskets 
containing many hundred-weight of these objects, and 
loading themselves, had intended to desert with their 
stolen prize; but the sentries having discovered them, 
they were seized by the soldiers. These fellows, the 
Latookas, had exhibited the folly of monkeys in so 
rashly breaking open the packages while the sentries 
were on guard. Several who had been caught in 
the act were now pinioned by the Turks, and were im¬ 
mediately condemned to be shot; while others were 
held down upon the ground and well chastised with 
the coorbatch. I begged that the punishment of 
death might be commuted for a good flogging;—at 
first I implored in vain, until I suggested, that if the 
porters were shot, there would be no one to carry their 
loads : —this practical argument saved them, and after 
receiving a severe thrashing, their arms were pinioned, 
and a guard set over them until the morning. 
We marched at 5.25 on the following morning. 
For several hours the path led through thick jungle in 
which we occasionally caught glimpses of antelopes. 
At length quitting the jungle we arrived at an open 
