night, upon coming to a halt, I called the men of the
caravan together, and explained to them that desertions
must cease. I asked them if they had any complaints
to make, to which they of course, as is customary with
the negro, replied, “ No; bwana Ngema” (Master is
good). I then said that all the porters who wished to
return to the coast had my full permission to do so,
provided they took advantage of this permission at
once. No one volunteered. I then told them that
should any further desertions be attempted, the deserter
would do so at the peril of his life. I little thought
that this threat, made for the purpose of strengthening
their fidelity, would have a serious result.
On the third day from Tuni, after a brisk march, I
reached Lieutenant von Hohnel and the canoes shortly
after noon. An hour after I arrived, George and the
last of the caravan appeared. George came direct to
my tent, bringing the Balook Bashi with him; and with
the aid of the interpreter, Ramazan, I gathered the following
story. It appeared that one of the porters tvho
attempted to desert on the day of our departure from
Tuni had, during this day’s march, again made repeated
efforts with the same end in view. He had been
deprived of his load, and placed in front of the Balook
Bashi, who had been told to drive the man along in
front of him, and watch him. The man feigned fatigue,
and his pace was very slow; the Balook Bashi endeavoured
to hasten the man’s movements, whereupon the
porter bolted into the bushes as fast as he could run.
The Balook Bashi chased him for some distance, and
bping unable to catch him, fired a shot, with the hope
of frightening the culprit and bringing him to a halt.