ht to account. This is the native way of doing things; is the only
way the native understands; and is the only way that in his mind true
justice is answered. Thus if a sheep is stolen, the thief must be caught
and punished. Suppose, however it is known to what family the thief
belongs, but the family refuses to disclose which of its members
committed the theft: then each member must be punished for sheep
stealing; or, if not the family, then the tribe must make restitution.
But punishment MUST be inflicted.

There is an essential justice to recommend this, outside the fact that
it has with the native all the solidity of accepted ethics, and
it certainly helps to run the real criminal to earth. The innocent
sometimes suffers innocently, but not very often; and our own records
show that in that respect with us it is the same. This is not the place
to argue the right or wrong of the matter from our own standpoint but to
recognize the fact that it is right from theirs, and to act accordingly.
Thus in cast of theft of meat, or something that cannot be traced, it
is well to call up the witnesses, to prove the alibis, and then to place
the issue squarely up to those that remain. There may be but two, or
there may be a dozen.

"I know you did not all steal the meat," you must say, "but I know that
one of you did. Unless I know which one that is by to-morrow morning, I
will kiboko all of you. Bass!"

Perhaps occasionally you may have to kiboko the lot, in the full
knowledge that most are innocent. That seems hard; and your heart will
misgive you. Harden it. The "innocent" probably know perfectly well who
the guilty man is. And the incident builds for the future.

I had intended nowhere to comment on the politics or policies of the
country. Nothing is more silly than the casual visitor's snap judgments
on how a country is run. Nevertheless, I may perhaps be pardoned for
suggesting that the Government would strengthen its hand, and aid its
few straggling settlers by adopting this native view of retributions.
For instance, at present it is absolutely impossible to identify
individual sheep and cattle stealers. They operate stealthily and at
night. If the Government cannot identify the actual thief, it gives the
matter up. As a consequence a great hardship is inflicted on the settler
and an evil increases. If, however, the Government would hold the
village, the district, or the tribe responsible, and exact just
compensation from