INHUMANITY OF THE MISSION MEN. 
89 
chants the performers were in the habit of abusing 
their masters and the Government, and airing their 
grievances in general; but he was obliged to give 
up the attempt, as the temporary prohibition nearly 
caused a serious riot. Martin told me that several 
Europeans had experienced grave trouble with their 
caravans by prohibiting this dance, which, after all, 
only represent a safety-valve and a form of amusement 
comparatively harmless, even if it does include such 
epithets as “ stingy brutes, cows, pigs, and dogs,” being- 
applied to caravan employers. These dances would 
last a long time, and were conducted in line in front 
of our tent, or in a large circle, or in a serpentine form 
round the square ; by degrees the string would become 
less and less, as those who were exhausted retired, until 
only one man would be left. 
I was horrified one day to discover, in a small hut, a 
wretched Rabai man, called Belail, very ill and utterly 
neglected ; he had been deserted by the discharged 
mission men, and none of the others seemed to care 
what became of him, and for two days no one had 
even visited him. I found him lying in a filthy state, 
perfectly unconscious and groaning as if in great pain, 
but failed to discover what was the matter with him, as 
he could not speak. However, I at once dosed him 
with beef-tea and brandy, and on the following day, 
after taking some ammonia, he awoke from his stupor, 
crying for food and water, and when these were 
brought, ate and drank as much as I dared let him. 
He had to be fed in our presence ; otherwise, Martin 
