The Tanganyka Territory . e, and that it is never safe to place anyrehance on information of this kind that has not beenchecked over and over again. When half-a-dozen orten persons have independently given the same reply,then one can feel moderately confident that the timetaken will be within a couple of hours of what theysay. To overcome in some measure the dilatory methodsof the black, many travellers prefer to march by moon-light when possible, for then the cool air induces theporters to set a quicker pace in order to keep themselveswarm, and in the night air they do not suffer fromthirst a
The Tanganyka Territory . e, and that it is never safe to place anyrehance on information of this kind that has not beenchecked over and over again. When half-a-dozen orten persons have independently given the same reply,then one can feel moderately confident that the timetaken will be within a couple of hours of what theysay. To overcome in some measure the dilatory methodsof the black, many travellers prefer to march by moon-light when possible, for then the cool air induces theporters to set a quicker pace in order to keep themselveswarm, and in the night air they do not suffer fromthirst as they do when the sun scorches in the bad lion country night treks are not possible, since,even with such danger at hand, the careless, haplessporters cannot be induced to take reasonable a while they will march in close formation andchant the eerie songs that are so strangely fascinating,but soon their laggardly nature proves stronger thantheir fear. A gap will grow in the middle of the column. TOPICAL TALK 143 and those at the rear will drop back, until urged by themaster to set a better pace in order to catch up withthe long Indian file. Time and again they will allowa space to grow between themselves and the main body,and at last even the little rear-guard will dissolve intostraggling twos and threes. Then one luckless youthwill halt—and an agonized shriek gives notice of hisfate. But the porter, though lackadaisical and dilatorylike all others of his race, is a contented being withwhom the reasonable traveller gets on well enough,provided he will curb the impatience so liable to gainmomentary sway in tropical Africa. Not least inter-esting of the characteristics of the bearers is the quaintchatter with which they while away the tedium of thejourney. Much of their talk seems to us mere wasteof breath, a deal of it strikes us as obscene, some phraseswhich to the Western mind convey no thought ofhumour are greeted with prolonged cachinnations, bu
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