Servants.—­Nature of Engagements.—­The general duties that a servant should be bound to, independently of those for which he is specially engaged, are—­under penalty of his pay being stopped, and, it may be, of dismissal—­to maintain discipline, take share of camp-duties and night-watch, and do all in his power to promote the success of the expedition.  His wages should not be payable to him in full, till the return of the party to the town from which it started, or to some other civilised place.  It is best that all clothing, bedding, etc., that the men may require, should be issued out and given to them as a present, and that none of their own old clothes should be allowed to be taken.  They are more careful of what is their own; and, by supplying the things yourself, you can be sure that they are good in quality, uniform in appearance, and equal in weight, while this last is ascertainable.

The following Form of Agreement is abridged from one that was used in Mr. Austin’s expedition in Australia.  It seems short, explicit, and reasonable:—­

“We the undersigned, forming an expedition about to explore the interior of ——­, under Mr. A., consent to place ourselves (horses and equipments) entirely and unreservedly under his orders for the above purpose, from the date hereof until our return to——­, or, on failure in this respect, to abide all consequences that may result.  We fully recognise Mr. B. as the second, and Mr. C. as the third in command; and the right of succession to the command and entire charge of the party in the order thus stated.

“We severally undertake to use our best endeavours to promote the harmony of the party, and the success of the expedition.

“In witness whereof we sign our names. (Here follow the signatures.) Read over and signed by the respective parties, in my presence.” (Here follows the signature of some person of importance in the place where the expedition is organised.)

By the words, “abide all consequences,” the leader would be justified in leaving a man to shift for himself, and refusing his pay, if the case were a serious one.

Good Interpreters are very important:  men who have been used by their chiefs, missionaries, etc., as interpreters, are much to be preferred; for so great is the poverty of thought and language among common people, that you will seldom find a man, taken at hazard, able to render your words with correctness.  Recollect to take with you vocabularies of all the tribes whom you are at all likely to visit.

Engaging Natives.—­On engaging natives, the people with whom they have lived, and to whom they have become attached and learnt to fear, should impress on them that, unless they bring you back in safety, they must never show their faces again, nor expect the balance of their pay, which will only be delivered to them on your return.