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ri man expects it； it doesn't hurt his feelings in the least； it is ancient custom。 As well sentimentalize over necessary schoolboy punishment； or over father paddy…whacking little Willie when little Willie has been a bad boy。 The chances are your porter will leap to his feet； crack his heels together and depart with a whoop of joy； grinning from ear to ear。 Or he may draw himself up and salute you； military fashion； again with a grin。 In any case his 〃soul〃 is not 〃scared〃 a little bit； and there is no sense in yourself feeling about it as though it were。
At another slant the justice you will dispense to your men differs from our own。 Again this is because of the teaching long tradition has made part of their mental make…up。 Our own belief is that it is better to let two guilty men go than to punish one innocent。 With natives it is the other way about。 If a crime is committed the guilty MUST be punished。 Preferably he alone is to be dealt with； but in case it is impossible to identify him； then all the members of the first inclusive unit must be brought to account。 This is the native way of doing things； is the only way the native understands； and is the only way that in his mind true justice is answered。 Thus if a sheep is stolen； the thief must be caught and punished。 Suppose； however it is known to what family the thief belongs； but the family refuses to disclose which of its members committed the theft： then each member must be punished for sheep stealing； or； if not the family； then the tribe must make restitution。 But punishment MUST be inflicted。
There is an essential justice to recommend this； outside the fact that it has with the native all the solidity of accepted ethics； and it certainly helps to run the real criminal to earth。 The innocent sometimes suffers innocently； but not very often； and our own records show that in that respect with us it is the same。 This is not the place to argue the right or wrong of the matter from our own standpoint but to recognize the fact that it is right from theirs； and to act accordingly。 Thus in cast of theft of meat； or something that cannot be traced； it is well to call up the witnesses； to prove the alibis； and then to place the issue squarely up to those that remain。 There may be but two； or there may be a dozen。
〃I know you did not all steal the meat；〃 you must say； 〃but I know that one of you did。 Unless I know which one that is by to…morrow morning； I will kiboko all of you。 Bass！〃
Perhaps occasionally you may have to kiboko the lot； in the full knowledge that most are innocent。 That seems hard； and your heart will misgive you。 Harden it。 The 〃innocent〃 probably know perfectly well who the guilty man is。 And the incident builds for the future。
I had intended nowhere to comment on the politics or policies of the country。 Nothing is more silly than the casual visitor's snap judgments on how a country is run。 Nevertheless； I may perhaps be pardoned for suggesting that the Government would strengthen its hand； and aid its few straggling settlers by adopting this native view of retributions。 For instance； at present it is absolutely impossible to identify individual sheep and cattle stealers。 They operate stealthily and at night。 If the Government cannot identify the actual thief； it gives the matter up。 As a consequence a great hardship is inflicted on the settler and an evil increases。 If； however； the Government would hold the village； the district； or the tribe responsible； and exact just compensation from such units in every case； the evil would very suddenly come to an end。 And the native's respect for the white man would climb in the scale。
Once the safari man gets confidence in his master； that confidence is complete。 The white man's duties are in his mind clearly defined。 His job is to see that the black man is fed； is watered； is taken care of in every way。 The ordinary porter considers himself quite devoid of responsibility。 He is also an improvident creature； for he drinks all his water when he gets thirsty； no matter how long and hot the journey before him； he eats his rations all up when he happens to get hungry； two days before next distribution time； he straggles outrageously at times and has to be rounded up； he works three months and； on a whim； deserts two days before the end of his journey； thus forfeiting all his wages。 Once two porters came to us for money。
〃What for？〃 asked C。
〃To buy a sheep；〃 said they。
For two months we had been shooting them all the game meat they could eat； but on this occasion two days had intervened since the last kill。 If they had been on trading safari they would have had no meat at all。 A sheep cost six rupees in that country； and they were getting but ten rupees a month as wages。 In view of the circumstances； and for their own good； we refused。 Another man once insisted on purchasing a cake of violet…scented soap for a rupee。 Their chief idea of a wild time in Nairobi； after return from a long safari； is to SIT IN A CHAIR and drink tea。 For this they pay exorbitantly at the Somali so…called 〃hotels。〃 It is a strange sight。 But then； I have seen cowboys off the range or lumberjacks from the river do equally extravagant and foolish things。
On the other hand they carry their loads well； they march tremendously； they know their camp duties and they do them。 Under adverse circumstances they are good…natured。 I remember C。 and I； being belated and lost in a driving rain。 We wandered until nearly midnight。 The four or five men with us were loaded heavily with the meat and trophy of a roan。 Certainly they must have been very tired； for only occasionally could we permit them to lay down their loads。 Most of the time we were actually groping； over boulders； volcanic rocks； fallen trees and all sorts of tribulation。 The men took it as a huge joke； and at every pause laughed consumedly。
In making up a safari one tries to mix in four or five tribes。 This prevents concerted action in case of trouble； for no one tribe will help another。 They vary both in tribal and individual characteristics； of course。 For example； the Kikuyus are docile but mediocre porters； the Kavirondos strong carriers but turbulent and difficult to handle。 You are very lucky if you happen on a camp jester； one of the sort that sings； shouts； or jokes while on the march。 He is probably not much as a porter； but he is worth his wages nevertheless。 He may or may not aspire to his giddy eminence。 We had one droll…faced little Kavirondo whose very expression made one laugh； and whose rueful remarks on the harshness of his lot finally ended by being funny。 His name got to be a catchword in camp。
〃Mualo！ Mualo！〃 the men would cry； as they heaved their burdens to their heads； and all day long their war cry would ring out； 〃Mualo！〃 followed by shrieks of laughter。
Of the other type was Sulimani； a big； one…eyed Monumwezi； who had a really keen wit coupled with an earnest； solemn manner。 This man was no buffoon； however； and he was a good porter； always at or near the head of the procession。 In the great jungle south of Kenia we came upon Cuninghame。 When the head of our safari reached the spot Sulimani left the ranks and； his load still aloft d