The Modern Traveller — Part 10

[Illustration ** A well-dressed African man with walking stick, ax and belligerent expression.]

He also gave us good advice Concerning Labour and its Price. “In dealing wid de Native Scum, Yo’ cannot pick an’ choose; Yo’ hab to promise um a sum Ob wages, paid in Cloth and Rum. But, Lordy! that’s a ruse! Yo’ get yo’ well on de Adventure, And change de wages to Indenture.”

We did the thing that he projected, The Caravan grew disaffected, And Sin and I consulted; Blood understood the Native mind. He said: “We must be firm but kind.” A Mutiny resulted. I never shall forget the way That Blood upon this awful day Preserved us all from death. He stood upon a little mound, Cast his lethargic eyes around, And said beneath his breath: “Whatever happens we have got The Maxim Gun, and they have not.”

[Illustration ** Blood, a stout man, with Maxim Gun.]

He marked them in their rude advance, He hushed their rebel cheers; With one extremely vulgar glance He broke the Mutineers. (I have a picture in my book Of how he quelled them with a look.) We shot and hanged a few, and then The rest became devoted men.

And here I wish to say a word Upon the way my heart was stirred By those pathetic faces. Surely our simple duty here Is both imperative and clear; While they support us, we should lend Our every effort to defend, And from a higher point of view To give the full direction due To all the native races. And I, throughout the expedition, Insisted upon this position.

[Illustration ** Our three travellers with guns riding piggy-back on three Africans’ shoulders.]

Well, after that we toiled away At drawing maps, and day by day Blood made an accurate survey Of all that seemed to lend A chance, no matter how remote, Of letting our financier float That triumph of Imagination, “The Libyan Association.” In this the “Negroes’ friend” Was much concerned to show the way Of making Missionaries pay.

At night our leader and our friend Would deal in long discourses Upon this meritorious end, And how he would arrange it. “The present way is an abuse Of Economic Forces; They Preach, but they do not Produce. Observe how I would change it. I’d have the Missionary lent, Upon a plot of land, A sum at twenty-five per cent.; And (if I understand The kind of people I should get) An ever-present fear of debt Would make them work like horses, And form the spur, or motive spring, In what I call ‘developing The Natural resources’; While people who subscribe will find Profit and Piety combined.”