In asking a man of your character and attainments to investigate, I was prompted by the desire to get a reliable report." Singleton did not know what to make of this; so far as his experience went, gentlemen who paid for an opinion on the property they meant to dispose of did not want an unfavorable one.
"The rubber's scattered and grows in awkward places," he explained.
"Precisely." Herbert glanced at the paper.

"You mentioned something of the kind.

But what about planting and systematic cultivation ?" "Soil and climate are eminently suitable." "I gather that there's a difficulty in the way of obtaining native labor ?" Singleton broke into a grim smile.
"It's a serious one.

The natives consider strangers as their lawful prey, and they lately managed to give a strong punitive expedition a good deal of trouble.

In fact, as they're in a rather restless mood, the authorities were very dubious about letting me go inland, and in spite of the care I took, they got two of my colored carriers.