166 TREKKING [ch. vii 



gleamed here and there within, and as we approached 

 we heard the talking and laughing of men and women, 

 and the lowing and bleating of the pent-up herds and 

 flocks. We hailed loudly, explaining our needs. At 

 first they were very suspicious. They told us we could 

 not bring the lion within, because it would frighten the 

 cattle, but after some parley consented to our building 

 a fire outside and skinning the animal. They passed 

 two brands over the thorn fence, and our men speedily 

 kindled a blaze, and drew the lioness beside it. By this 

 time the Masai were reassured, and a score of their 

 warriors, followed soon by half a dozen women, came 

 out through a small opening in the fence, and crowded 

 close around the fire, with boisterous, noisy good 

 humoiu'. They showed a tendency to chaff our jDorters. 

 One, the humorist of the crowd, excited much merri- 

 ment by describing, with pantomimic accompaniment 

 of gestiu'es, how when the white man shot a lion it 

 might bite a Swahili. who thereupon would call for his 

 mother. But they were entirely friendly, and offered 

 me calabashes of milk. The men Avere tall, finely- 

 shaped sav^ages, their hair plnstered with red mud, and 

 drawn out into longish ringlets. They were naked 

 except for a blanket worn, not round the loins, but 

 over the slioidders ; tlieir ears were slit, and from them 

 hinig bone and wooden ornaments ; they wore metal 

 bracelets and anklets, and chains which passed around 

 their necks, or else over one side of the neck and under 

 the opposite arm. The women had pleasant faces, and 

 were laden Mnth metal ornaments — chiefly wire anklets, 

 bracelets, and necklaces — of man}^ pounds weight. 

 The features of the men were bold and clear-cut, and 

 their bearing warlike and self-reliant. As the flame of 

 the fire glanced over them, and brought their faces and 



