tinence was so violent, that I immediately ordered him
twenty-five lashes, as an example to the others.
Upon the vakeel (Saati) advancing to seize him,
there was a general mutiny. Many of the men threw
down their guns and seized sticks, and rushed to the
rescue of their tall ringleader. Saati was a little man,
and was perfectly helpless. Here was an escort!
these were the men upon whom I was to depend in
hours of difficulty and danger on an expedition in
unknown regions j these were the fellows that I had
considered to he reduced “ from wolves to lambs ¡'
I was determined not to be done, and to insist upon
the punishment of the ringleader. I accordingly went
towards him with the intention of seizing h im ; but
he, being backed by upwards of forty men, had the impertinence
to attack me, rushing forward with a fury
that was ridiculous. To stop his blow, and to knock
him into the middle of the crowd, was not difficult;
and after a rapid repetition of the dose, I disabled
him, and seizing him by the throat, I called to my
vakeel Saati for a rope to bind him, but in an instant
I had a crowd of men upon me to rescue their leader.
How the affair would have ended I cannot say ; but as
the scene lay within ten yards of my boat, my wife,
who was ill with fever in the cabin, witnessed the
whole affray, and seeing me surrounded, she rushed
out, and in a few moments she was in the middle of
the crowd, who at that time were endeavouring to
rescue my prisoner. Her sudden appearance had a
curious effect, and calling upon several of the least
mutinous to assist, she very pluckily made her way up
to me. Seizing the opportunity of an indecision that
was for the moment evinced by the crowd, I shouted
to the drummer-boy to beat the drum. In an instant
•the drum beat, and at the top of my voice I ordered
the men to “ fall in.” I t is curious how mechanically
an order is obeyed if given at the right moment, even
m the midst of mutiny. Two-thirds of the men fell
in, and formed in line, while the remainder retreated
with the ringleader, Eesur, whom they led away,
declaring that he was badly hurt. The affair ended in
my insisting upon all forming in line, and upon the
ringleader being brought forward. In this critical
moment Mrs. Baker, with great tact, came forward and
implored me to forgive him if he kissed my hand and
begged for pardon. This compromise completely won
the men, who, although a few minutes before in open
mutiny, now called upon their ringleader Eesur to
apologise, and that all would be right. • I made them
gather a bitter speech, and dismissed them.
From that moment I knew that my expedition was
fated. This , outbreak was an example of what was .to
VOL. I. H