io6 ACROSS LANDS OF KIKUYU AND MASAI part ii 



Twice during the night we had false alarms of the Masai ; our 

 rest was also disturbed by the attempt of a pair of hyenas to 

 get at our donkeys. Fortunately the night was rainless, and 

 by the morning the river had fallen sufficiently to permit us to 

 cross. We did so, though with difficulty. Omari and two or 

 three of the stronger porters carried over the loads, while the 

 feebler members of the party pulled themselves across, hand 

 over hand, along a rope. Some Masai watched us, but made 

 no attempt to interfere. A short march farther brought us to 

 the Gilgil river, the waters of which were unusually low. There 

 were no Masai in the district, and nothing to lessen the luxury 

 of a feeling of safety and peace. The porters were delighted 

 to get into an uninhabited country, and I was glad to turn 

 again to the subjects of geology and botany, after my experi- 

 ence of the over-exciting occupation often presented by African 

 anthropology. 



