MISSION STATION 21J

fice had once been offered at the falls, but now the
paths were no longer kept open.

Next morning, as we were about to start along
Dunbar's new road north-east to Zuluyi, I heard that
Babu could go no further, he was sick. He had been
one of the few men, though he spoke no word of
English, with whom I thought I had some contact. I
had known him to be completely dependable; he had
not joined with the carriers who had struck for more
pay. I think he was genuinely sick; he had been
given heavy loads the last few days and he was not
strong, and none of the carriers would have chosen
by this time to stay behind alone among a strange
tribe, at least ten days' trek away from his own people.
I should have liked to dismiss him with a handsome
present, but it would only have encouraged others to
go sick. I had to pretend anger and pay him off with
a very small dash. I felt guilty of a meanness; he had
no friends among the carriers, except Guawa, the
other Buzie, and they taunted him. I would have lost
any of them more willingly.

But it was awkward to lose any man when I was
beginning to feel that I might soon need a hammock
badly. There were not enough men now to carry even
an empty hammock. I had to tell them to take the
heavy pole out and leave it behind and add the ham-
mock to one of the lighter loads. I could see the
doctor watching me, critically; he didn't have to tell
me what he was thinking.

It was about two hours' walk to Zuluyi. The chief
there had been one of Harley's pupils and came to
guide us to Zugbei. We passed through a thick steep
forest country, up the slopes of what the natives be^