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These whips were not the smoothly prepared whips used for light punishment; they had angles that cut like sword edges. One wonders what those sentimental people would say those sentimental people who cry out if a burly ruffian is ordered twenty strokes with the cat could they see a hundred chicotte administered with a whip that is flexible as india-rubber, hard as steel.
On the 21st we reached Bumba and shipped a good deal of coffee. Here it was necessary to give the chicotte to one of the crew for continually shirking work.
Verily it was a beating to the bitter end, and Meeus, pale, dripping with sweat, his eyes dilated to a rim, ran about laughing, shouting "Two hundred chicotte. Two hundred chicotte." He cried the words like a parrot, not knowing what he said. And Berselius? Berselius, also dripping with sweat, his eyes also dilated to a rim, tottering like a drunken man, gazed, drinking, drinking the sight in.
"Two hundred chicotte," cried Meeus, and like the echo of his words came the first dull, coughing blow. The villagers shrieked and cried altogether at each blow, but the victim, after the shriek which followed the first blow, was dumb.
For collecting rubber the chief is no longer valuable, but to his successor it is an object-lesson. Let me recommend also the chicotte, the torture tower, the 'hostage' house, and the crucifix. Many other stimulants to labor will no doubt suggest themselves to you and to your cannibal 'sentries. Help to make me rich, and don't fear the 'State. 'L'Etat, c'est moi! Go as far as you like!"
The chicotte is a plain strip of hippo hide and the punishment was administered publicly by the capita on the bridge of the steamer and did not appear to be more painful than an ordinary birching at a public school. At 10 p.m. we decide to take the big iron boat of the steamer and go hunting. The natives are exceedingly skilful and know all the likely places for hippo.
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