There should be 200
men in four parties stationed at intervals along the line to direct the
natives in opening the road.
"A soldier deserted and ran away with his arms and ammunition to some
distant village. I immediately called Wani and the old sheik Abbio, to
whom I explained that I should hold them responsible if the deserter
were not captured. They sent out natives in all directions in search.
"February 28. - The natives returned, saying they had found the deserter
about half a march distant, but they could not seize him alive, as he
threatened to shoot them; at the same time they were afraid to kill him,
as he was my soldier.
"I immediately sent a sergeant and three men of 'The Forty' to take him
prisoner.
"In the evening the soldiers returned, having captured the deserter. I
left him in irons to be kept at hard labour by the sheik Abbio at
Lobore, until I should return to the country. This is a good lesson to
the troops.
"The natives had a grand dance to-day; the men and women as usual naked,
leaping, and yelling wild songs to an extraordinary accompaniment of
music, produced by beating a long stick of extremely hard wood with a
short stick of the same substance.
