THE BIG GAME OF AFRICA 



which a great many people have held to be a mixture of 

 Negro and Ethiopian, but recent discoveries, however, 

 have led to the almost certain conclusion that they belong 

 to the Semitic race. Captain Merker, who has studied the 

 Masai as has no one else, is of the opinion that they have 

 the same origin as the Hebrew race of herdsmen, from 

 whom the Masai have inherited a great many customs and 

 ceremonies still in vogue. Some of the Masai men we met 

 really made us think of the old patriarchs; especially a 

 couple of chiefs, who had such pronounced Hebraic fea- 

 tures that it was not difficult to believe that the Masai and 

 the Israelites had sprung from a common ancestry. 

 Among other things that seem to prove this, is the fact 

 that the Masai, although having lived for centuries among 

 idolatrous and polytheistic peoples, still adhere strictly to 

 the monotheistic belief; further, they make a kind of aton- 

 ing sacrifice, and all of their men above a certain age are 

 circumcised in the same manner as the Jews. 



The Masai tribe appear to be the most independent and 

 liberty-loving of all African peoples. A young warrior 

 would rather be killed than work as a slave, or even be 

 induced to carry burdens as a caravan porter. He will 

 serve as a herdsman, being an excellent and courageous 

 defender of the cattle against all kinds of wild animals; 

 and when intrusted with modern arms he certainly makes 

 a splendid soldier. This tribe has from time immemorial 

 been accustomed to be the rulers of East Central Africa, 

 where it held all the other tribes in subjection — only the 

 Kikujus being able at times to defend themselves with 

 success against the Masai raiders. Enormous herds of fine 

 cattle composed the riches of this tribe, but the terrible 



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