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(32) Hints respecting the lading of cattle [[172]]
[[172]] Bearers of all descriptions are apt to carry too much
luggage
for themselves, stowing it, to an unmerciful amount, on the back of
some
poor camel, or on some cart, which their master thinks is very lightly
laden. The mischief is not suspected till he notices, day after day,
the
late arrival of his baggage, or receives a report that his cattle have
sore backs, &c. &c.; and this in situations where no
substitutes
can be found for the disabled beasts. To correct this evil, it is
desirable
to give notice that whatever is found thus clandestinely laden, shall
be
certainly destroyed.
| Williamson 1810 vol. 1: ((310))
Let me recommend
my mode of correcting this evil; under which I was so often, and so
grievously,
a sufferer, that at length, a radical cure became indispensable. I made
a point of lagging behind sometimes, or perhaps of riding back, and of
stopping my camels, &c. to see what, besides my own property, might
be on their backs. It is inconceivable what bundles of cloaths, pots,
and
pans, were burthened: nay, even perroquets sometimes formed a part of
the
group.
In the first instance, I gave fair warning, that
whatever was found
thus clandestinely laden, should be destroyed: after that, I spared
nothing;
but caused all the brass vessels to be beat up with a tent-mallet, and
the rest of the ((311)) luggage to be burnt. The consequence was such
as
might be expected; my baggage was always up in excellent time, and my
cattle
were no more chafed and galled, by excessive burthens.
I anticipate the observation, that the drivers were to
blame. True,
but few of them have the resolution to withstand solicitation, or
perhaps
a small douceur, in some shape or other; and as to discharging them, it
is not always practicable, the greatest fear being that they should
discharge
themselves. Elephants and camels must not be put into the hands of
novices:
neither will they always submit to be ruled by strangers.
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The bearers, as just observed, are generally concerned in these
instances;
because every other servant has usually some family, or shares some tattoo
(pony), which conveys his luggage, and would be peculiarly liable to
discovery.
On the other hand, the bearer, probably a temporary servant, and a sort
of alien in the camp, cannot dispose of his luggage like the regular
servants:
besides, all this tribe are either penurious or dissipated. They either
hoard every cowrie, or run in[to] debt, and then, to avoid payment, run
away.
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