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s of grass； or papyrus； or cat…tail rushes； as the case may be； others lug in poles of various lengths from where their comrades are cutting them by means of their panga。 A panga； parenthetically； is the safari man's substitute for axe； shovel； pick； knife； sickle； lawn…mower； hammer； gatling gun； world's library of classics； higher mathematics； grand opera； and toothpicks。 It looks rather like a machete with a very broad end and a slight curved back。 A good man can do extraordinary things with it。 Indeed； at this moment； two boys are with this apparently clumsy implement delicately peeling some of the small thorn trees； from the bared trunks of which they are stripping long bands of tough inner bark。
With these three raw materials…poles； withes； and grass…M'ganga and his men set to work。 They planted their corner and end poles； they laid their rafters； they completed their framework； binding all with the tough withes； then deftly they thatched it with the grass。 Almost before we had settled our own affairs； M'ganga was standing before us smiling。 Gone now was his mien of high indignation and swirling energy。
〃Banda naquisha；〃 he informed us。
And we moved in our table and our canvas chairs； hung up our water bottles； Billy got out her fancy work。 Nothing could be pleasanter nor more appropriate to the climate than this wide low arbour； open at either end to the breezes； thatched so thickly that the fierce sun could nowhere strike through。
The men had now settled down to a knowledge of what we were like； and things were going smoothly。 At first the African porter will try it on to see just how easy you are likely to prove。 If he makes up his mind that you really are easy； then you are in for infinite petty annoyance； and possibly open mutiny。 Therefore； for a little while； it is necessary to be extremely vigilant； to insist on minute performance in all circumstances where later you might condone an omission。 For the same reason punishment must be more frequent and more severe at the outset。 It is all a matter of watching the temper of the men。 If they are cheerful and willing； you are not nearly as particular as you would be were their spirit becoming sullen。 Then the infraction is not so important in itself as an excuse for the punishment。 For when your men get sulky； you watch vigilantly for the first and faintest EXCUSE to inflict punishment。
This game always seemed to me very fascinating； when played right。 It is often played wrong。 People do not look far enough。 Because they see that punishment has a most salutary effect on morale； and is sometimes efficacious in getting things done that otherwise would lag； they jump to the conclusion that the only effective way to handle a safari is by penalties。 By this I do not at all mean that they act savagely； or punish to brutal excess。 Merely they hold rigidly to the letter of the work and the day's discipline。 Because it is sometimes necessary to punish severely slight infractions when the men's tempers need sweetening； they ALWAYS punish slight infractions severely。
And in ordinary circumstances this method undoubtedly results in a very efficient safari。 Things are done smartly； on time； with a snap。 The day's march begins without delay； there is a minimum of straggling； on arrival the tents are immediately got up and the wood and water fetched。 But in a tight place； men so handled by invariable rule are very apt to sit down apathetically； and put the whole thing up to the white man。 When it comes time to help out they are not there。 The contrast with a well…disposed safari cannot be appreciated by one who has not seen both。
The safari…man loves a master。 He does not for a moment understand any well…meant but misplaced efforts on your part to lighten his work below the requirements of custom。 Always he will beg you to ease up on him； to accord him favour； and always he will despise you if you yield。 The relations of man to man； of man to work； are all long since established by immemorial distauri…custom…and it is not for you or him to change them lightly。 If you know what he should or can do； and hold him rigidly to it； he will respect and follow you。
But in order to keep him up to the mark； it is not always advisable to light into him with a whip； necessary as the whip often is。 If he is sullen； or inclined to make mischief； then that is the crying requirement。 But if he is merely careless； or a little slow； or tired； you can handle him in other ways。 Ridicule before his comrades is very effective： a sort of good…natured guying； I mean。 〃Ah！ very tired！〃 uttered in the right tone of voice has brought many a loiterer to his feet as effectively as the kick some men feel must always be bestowed； and quite without anger； mind you！ For days at a time we have kept our men travelling at good speed by commenting； as though by the way； after we had arrived in camp； on which tribe happened to come in at the head。
〃Ah！ Kavirondos came in first to…night；〃 we would remark。 〃Last night the Monumwezis were ahead。〃
And once； actually； by this method we succeeded in working up such a feeling of rivalry that the Kikuyus； the unambitious； weak and despised Kikuyus； led the van！
But the first hint of insubordination； of intended insolence； of willful shirking must be met by instant authority。 Occasionally； when the situation is of the quick and sharp variety； the white man may have to mix in the row himself。 He must never hesitate an instant； for the only reason he alone can control so many is that he has always controlled them。 F。 had a very effective blow； or shove； which I found well worth adopting。 It is delivered with the heel of the palm to the man's chin； and is more of a lifting； heaving shove than an actual blow。 Its effect is immediately upsetting。 Impertinence is best dealt with in this manner on the spot。 Evidently intended slowness in coming when called is also best treated by a flick of the whip…and forgetfulness。 And so with a half dozen others。 But any more serious matter should be decided from the throne of the canvas chair； witness should be heard； judgment formally pronounced； and execution intrusted to the askaris or gunbearers。
It is； as I have said； a most interesting game。 It demands three sorts of knowledge： first what a safari man is capable of doing； second； what he customarily should or should not do； third； an ability to read the actual intention or motive back of his actions。 When you are able to punish or hold your hand on these principles； and not merely because things have or have not gone smoothly or right； then you are a good safari manager。 There are mighty few of them。
As for punishment； that is quite simply the whip。 The average writer on the country speaks of this with hushed voice and averted face as a necessity but as something to be deprecated and passed over as quickly as possible。 He does this because he thinks he ought to。 As a matter of fact； such an attitude is all poppycock。 In the flogging of a white man； or a black who suffers from such a punishment in his soul as well as his body； this is all very well。 But the safari man expects it； it doesn't hurt his feelings in the least； it is ancient custom。 As well sentimen