CH. ix] MICE AND RATS 213 



and mueh-oriianiented Kikuyus. The fireman wore a 

 blue head chain on one ankle, a brass armlet on the 

 opposite arm, a belt of short steel chains, a dingy 

 blanket (no loni-cloth), and a skuU-eap surmounted by 

 a plume of ostrich feathers. Tiie two Kikuyus were 

 unconsciously entertaining- companions. W'ithout any 

 warning, they would suddenly start a song or chant, 

 usually an impromptu recitative of whatever at the 

 moment interested them. They chanted for lialf an 

 iiour over the feat of the '• Bwana Makuba " (great 

 master or chief —my name) in killing the hippo, laying 

 especial stress upon the quantity of excellent meat it 

 would furnish and how very good the eating would l)e. 

 Usually one would improvise the chant and the other 

 join in the chorus. Sometimes they would solenmly 

 sing complimentary songs to one another, each in turn 

 chanting the manifold good qualities of his companion. 



Around this camp were many birds. The most note- 

 worthy was a handsome grey eagle owl, bigger than 

 our great horned owl, to which it is closely akin. It 

 did not hoot or scream, its voice being a kind of grunt, 

 followed in a second or two by a succession of similar 

 sounds, uttered more quickly and in a lower tone. 

 These big owls frequently came round camp after dark, 

 and at first their notes completely puzzled me, as 1 

 thought they must be made by some beast. The bul- 

 buls sang well. Most of the birds w^ere in no w^ay like 

 our home birds. 



Loring trapped (juantities of mice and rats, and it 

 was curious to see how many of them had acquired 

 characters which caused tliem superficially to resemble 

 American animals with which they had no real kinship. 

 The sand rats that burrowed in the dry plains were in 

 siiape. in colour, eyes, tail, and paws strikingly like our 



