With Flashlight and Rifle ^ 



west and south- west of Africa, who have abandoned 

 their ancient customs tlirou^h the influence of civilisation. 



For davs antl weeks together I have lingered among 

 the Masai, encamped in the vicinity of their kraals, and 

 I have learnt to understand and appreciate them. Their 

 habits and customs, their songs and dances, were to me 

 an unfailing source of interest and enjoyment. Often, I 

 remember, a feeling ot melancholy would steal over me 

 as I sat by the camp-fire gazing at these splendid 

 fighting men, with their fine stature and noble bearing, 

 as they sang their time-hallowed melodies or war-songs, 

 shield and spear always in their hands. They lay or 

 crouched all round me, their faces illumined by the 

 llames. I often asked myself how 1 should fare, if I 

 had to meet them in combat, supported by my followers ! 

 Even when, as happened more than once, 1 found my 

 caravan threatened by these Masai, I could feel no ill-will 

 against them. They were but fighting for their ideals, 

 as w^e Europeans have daily to do tor ours. And they 

 await with ardour the day (so Merker teUs us), when 

 their great chief Mbatyan shall come back to them and 

 stand once again in their midst, to free them from the 

 yoke of the stranger. 



The following incident illustrates the way in which 

 the Masai cling to their traditional habits. A Masai 

 boy had been several times to Germany with his master, 

 a Government official, and had mastered our language, 

 Berlin iars^on and all, in an astonishing fashion. When 

 he had grown to man's estate, and had quitted the service 

 of this official, he was found one day by a European 



7^4 



