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Thus the amounts which should balance in weekly accounts are, for instance:—

Received. £ Pt. Spent. £ Pt. Total to 17th Feb. 168 77 Total to 17th Feb. 182 34 on 19th „ 10 Wages to 24th„ 34 16 on 22nd„ 5 Locals to 24th„ 9 83 on 24th„ 20 80 House 39 Materials 64 Total received 204 59½ Personal drawings 5 Due to men 27 79 Balancing total 232 41 232 41

This, of course, being the paymaster account, as apart from the accounts in chief, and from which the accounts in chief are made up by the head of a party.

It is necessary to take trouble to gain the confidence of the men; they must be convinced of the master’s good faith and precision. Whenever there is reasonable doubt on a point, they must always be given the benefit of it; and plenty of patience is needed to hear their complaints, and to understand what is the real state of an objection. Some men are so puzzle-headed that they cannot remember their account clearly; and if so, it is best to make them name some friend with whom all their accounts are settled. If any man wants to go far back in accounts—and sometimes they will raise a question of four or five weeks before—then it is well to have a friend as witness, who will see that it is right, and close the matter, silencing any puzzled grumbling. Egyptians will often dispute accounts against their own interest, and remind the payer of amounts which they have received that may have been overlooked. But it is needful to show care and interest about the smallest amounts, so as to maintain a sense of exactness and precision with the men.