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Cornugaya Directory 10
Page 04
They had agreed to do the work, but unfortunately they were the most
unpractical men I have ever come across, and insisted on carrying the
loads in a way which made it impossible for them to carry them for any
long distance. For instance, one man insisted on carrying a heavy wooden
packing-case slung on one side of the body just over the hip, in the
fashion in which Italians carry barrel-organs in the streets of cities;
another man suspended a case on his back by a strap which went round his
neck, so that after a few minutes he was absolutely strangled; while
Filippe the negro let his load hang so low that it would certainly cause
a bad sore on his spine. I tried to teach them, but it was no use, as it
only led to a row. Absolutely disgusted with the whole crowd of them,
late that afternoon of August 26th I made ready to start on our difficult
journey.
The loads the men were to carry were not heavy--merely from 35 to 40 lb.
each--the heaviest load being the one I carried, so as to give a good
example to my men. We had ample provisions to last us, with a little
economy, three months. When the moment arrived to depart there was not
one man who could stand up on his legs; the policeman with his injured
foot could not even land from the boat, as it gave him so much pain. The
chief of the Indians was so ill with the fever and the medicine he had
taken that he really looked as if he might not survive. The other Indians
refused to leave their chief; while the Indian Miguel, whom I had
employed subsequently, flatly refused to come along. Much time was wasted
talking, Mr. Nery, a fluent speaker, haranguing the men, who lay around
helpless, holding their heads between their hands or rolling themselves
on the ground.
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