Richest country in the world--grow anything--find anything--game--climate--elevation--scenery--natives by the million to do the work--all good! Only waiting for white men with energy, and capital to start things really moving!" But there were other points of view.

We went to the bank, and found its manager conservative.

The amount of the draft we placed to our credit insured politeness.
"Be cautious," he advised us.

"Take a good look round before you commit yourselves!" He agreed to manage the interchange of messages between us and Monty, and invited us all to dinner that evening at the club; so we left the bank feeling friendly and more confident.

Later, a chance-met English official showed us over the old fort (now jail) where men of more breeds and sorts than Noah knew, better clothed and fed than ever in their lives, drew endless supplies of water in buckets from da Gama's well.
"Some of them have to be kicked out when their sentences expire!" he told us.