PUTTAH-PUTTAH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2543, 27 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

PUTTAH-PUTTAH.

Tme following anecdote is taken from a work entitled " Sierra Leone,".by 6. A. L. Banbury : —Mr Tarleton, a legal functionary, accompanied an expedition sent to punish Gpowc, one of the native chiefs. Mr Tarleton was a heavy man, and whilst being carried across a swamp he became covered with mud, which he did not trouble to wash off. " His muddy condition," goes on the story, "was made most annoying to him, and amusing to the rest, through the politeness of the. natives, who persisted in acquainting him of the fact. First of a'J, a policeman, near to him on the march, said, ' Sah, I bey your pardon.' 'Well, what is it P'

'Nuddiug, sah ; but you've got puttahputtah mark on your face.' ' What's puttah-puttah ?' demanded Mr Tarleton grufUy. ' Mud' answered Mr Finltett laconically. 'Yes, I know, my man; go on, grumbled Mr Tarleton. Presently a sergeant, who had been hunting' up stragglers, came along. After making his report, to the acting governor ho returned to Mr Tarleton, and, with a military salute, said, 'Sah!' ' Well, what do you want ?' 'I beg pardon, sah ; but you've got puttah-puttah mark on your face.' 'Go on and do your work, man, and don't bother me!'was tho irritable rejoinder. In a short time a boatman sidled up, and palling his cap in nautical style, said, 1 Sah ! ' What is it yon want,'? ' demanded Tarleton, with a fierce gleam in his eyes. 'Nuddiug 1 , sah; only to tell you that you've got puttah-puttah mark ' ' your puttah-puttah,' shouted Tarleton. 'Go away. The next m/in that puttah-puttah's me, I'll knock him down—by heavens, 1 will.' It was not long before the acting-commandant came up : he had been looking up the friendly natives, and haviity made a few remarks to Mr Pinkett, he said, ' Hallo ! Tarleton ; all right so far?' ' Y'cs,' said Tarleton, in surly tones, looking towards his inquirer. ' Oh ! I say, you have got a black streak of mud on your face.' Tarleton's face, despite the streak, was a study, and, after spluttering several incoherent sentences, he gasped, ' Look here, stop the expedition, for heaven's sake ; let every one of the white fellows tell me I'm covered with mud, and every nigcer puttah-puttah me until I'm sick, and then, perhaps, we can proceed quietly !' However, it was useless : a corporal presently came from the front with a message from the inspector of police, and, having delivered it, he looßed at Mr Tarleton, and then said, ' Sah !' ' Now, ray man, be careful, because I'm in a rage. Unless you're on business, go away—ltn in a rage !' 'I beg pardon, sah ; I only wish to tell you, sah, that you've got puttali-putfah ' D—n it, I can't stand this any longer. Clear out! go away !' literally shrieked Tarleton at the astonished policeman, as he raised a thick stick and threatened the ' bobby,' who precipitately retreated, while the rest of the officers burst into a roar of laughter, which only increased his exasperation."