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DISCUSSION 



J. B. Cragg: I think it is fair to point out that the Masai do use their 

 cattle to produce protein in the most economic way — by bleeding them. 

 My second point is to ask whether the redesigning of the park has interfered 

 with game migration routes. 



W. H. Pearsall: The redesigning of the park was done hurriedly and 

 it is now clear that the best dividing line was not found. We chose a pro- 

 vincial boundary: in fact nomadic peoples and game alike transgress such 

 lines. A considerable proportion of the wildebeest calve east of the boundary. 

 But the park is a viable unit, and would be even if limited rigidly by fencing. 



J. B. Cragg: Are the Masai increasing? 



W. H. Pearsall: They will do so slowly. They are traditionally a 

 raiding people. Nowadays they cannot raid for wives, but buy wives from 

 adjoining regions. These have a pastoral tradition and consequently maize 

 plots are now being made near to the settlements and a change in the pattern 

 of Hfe is likely. 



W. Banage: Professor Pearsall has said that the Masai use the land 

 disastrously and that their cattle tend to cause more deterioration than the 

 wild game. One wonders how far these processes have been accentuated by 

 the pressure of marginal tribes on the Masai. Some of these, like the Kikuyu, 

 have increased greatly in the adjoining lands that the Masai used to roam. 



W. H. Pearsall: To some extent this is true, but there is also the 

 question of the methods used by the Masai. I think there is no doubt of the 

 causes of damage, as pictures of cattle trails radiating from huts, and un- 

 palatable fire-resistant grasslands on burnt land, will demonstrate. [Professor 

 Pearsall showed further shdes to illustrate these points.] 



G. Surtees : The rainfall in this area is said to be about 30 in. per annum. 



