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Europeans if lie gave me an affirmative—lie seemed to liave a
in Africa. certain code of honour to which he religiously adhered
—I never had reason to doubt that the work should
he done conformably with the order, barring accidents.
Had his education and other attainments been equal to
his goodwill, Albert Christopherson would to-day have
been in an enviable position. The young fellow was
as free from the stupid vice common to most of his
calling as his constitution was free from defect. A
Paladin for his strength, perfect in good humour,
almost boyish in his frankness, he taught the natives to
discern in him from amongst the Europeans a guileless
friend.*
The next was Captain Anderson, a Scandinavian
mariner. He also served a term of three years. The
very movement of this man was a great pleasure to me.
No coloured employe could resist, in his presence, the
wish to do his level best. When he lent a hand to
haul a heavily-weighted wagon up a steep hill, his
keen eye glanced along the lines of tugging, panting
* I remember one day that a moody Zanzibari appeared before me to
complain of Albert for baying struck him. His lips were swollen and face
disfigured, as evidence that something unusual had occurred during my
absence. Albert was called, and appeared with his sleeves rolled up
above the elbows—a fair-skinned young giant.
“ Well, what is this, Albert ? I hear you have been striking this man ?”
“ Yes, sir, I have. This man had been boasting to his fellows that he
could tackle me, and he sought an occasion of it, by language and looks of
defiance, when I told him to be a little more lively. The last time I told
him so I gave him a little push, when he at once turned on me in a boxing
attitude, learned among the sailors at Zanzibar, I suppose. I could
scarcely believe it, but, seeing everyone else look up, I saw that the whole
thing was planned by Kungurugwa for a little sport. I gave him one
from the shoulder, which felled him. He was some time coming to, and
he did not try another round.” .
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