His friend told him that, in the forests along the principal lines of route to the capital, were many bad characters--persons who had committed crime and fled from justice.

Some were cultivators who, having been unable to pay their taxes, had deserted their land and taken to the woods.

All committed depredations, and traders coming into the town from the Shan states, or from the country where rubies and emeralds were found, always travelled in caravans for mutual protection.

At times levies were called out, and many of these marauders were killed.
Stanley, then, had hit upon nothing definite when the officer returned in the afternoon and, in reply to the latter's question, he acknowledged at once that the only thing he could see was to take to the forest, until the active search for him had ceased.
"You would find it difficult to maintain yourself.

I have thought of a better way than that.