KIKUYU MANNERS 159 



assured them that I should be very sorry if this were necessary, 

 for I liked the people, and thought they were good to work so 

 hard and plant such big shambas, and were clever to grow so 

 many different kinds of grain. I fear Ramathan said many 

 things that I had not authorised, playing on the people's super- 

 stitions, and extolling my powers as a great Mga?tga or medicine 

 man. He however assured them that I wished my visit to do 

 them good and not harm, and if the latter happened it would 

 be their own fault. 



After a long and, to us, anxious shauri, the suspicions of the 

 Kikuyu were allayed. Omari and Ramathan were made blood- 

 brothers with the sons of the principal chief, and then permission 

 was given to the women to sell us food. 



They flocked into camp, carrying gourds of flour, baskets 

 of grain and beans, sheaves of sugar-cane, huge bunches of 

 bananas, bundles of yams, sweet potatoes {vikwa and viazi), 

 and maize cobs. With the exception of the sugar-cane we 

 bought everything they brought us, for we wanted at least 

 a ton of food, and with people so uncertain as the Kikuyu, a 

 change in their attitude might come at any moment. In the 

 afternoon another party of natives appeared on the scene, and 

 protested against the food being sold to us. There was a 

 noisy quarrel between the two factions, until our friends gave 

 way ; then they all withdrew, leaving some warriors to watch 

 the approaches to the camp, and prevent the women bringing 

 us supplies by stealth. 



Next morning some ulcerated elders came for medicine ; it 

 was a pleasure to dress the wounds of men who stood pain so 

 well. A cretin also visited us, and by his hideous appearance 

 and idiotic ways caused much merriment in camp. But there 

 was no sign of more food. In the afternoon a party of warriors 

 brought us some small bundles. This struck us as suspicious, 

 for trading is usually left to the women ; so several men were 

 kept in hiding in my tent ready for emergencies. At a given 

 signal the Kikuyu raised a tremendous shout, and each of them 

 tried to seize something and bolt with it from camp. We 

 were too quick for them, and they gained nothing of any value. 

 The son of the chief was in camp at the time, and did not 

 escape. He was placed under arrest, and told that, in case of 

 treachery, he would be shot. 



