348 TO THE UASIN GISHU [ch. xii 



welcome to the weaker, so irksome to the predatory, 

 tribes — has left lion-killing one of the few pursuits in 

 which glory can be won by a young warrior. When it 

 was told them that if they wished they could come to 

 hunt lions at Sergoi, eight hundred warriors volunteered, 

 and much heartburning was caused in choosing the 

 sixty or seventy who were allowed the privilege. They 

 stipulated, however, that they should not be used 

 merely as beaters, but should kill the lion themselves, 

 and refused to come unless with this understanding. 



The day before we reached Sergoi they had gone out 

 and had killed a lion and lioness. The beasts were put 

 up from a small covert and despatched wath the heavy 

 throwing spears on the instant, before they offered, or, 

 indeed, had the chance to offer, any resistance. The day 

 after our arrival there was mist and cold rain, and we 

 found no lions. Next day, November 20th, we were 

 successful. 



VV^e started immediately after breakfast. Kirke, 

 Skally, Mouton, Jordaan, Mr. and Mrs. Corbett, Cap- 

 tain Chapman, and our party were on horseback. Of 

 course, we carried our rifles, but our duty was merely to 

 round up the lion and hold him if he went off so far in 

 advance that even the Nandi runners could not over- 

 take him. We intended to beat the country toward 

 some shallow, swampy valleys twelve miles distant. 



In an hour we overtook the Nandi warriors, who 

 were advancing across the rolling, grassy plains in a long 

 line, with intervals of six or eight yards between the 

 men. They were splendid savages, stark naked, lithe 

 as panthers, the muscles rippling under their smooth 

 dark skins. All their lives they had lived on nothing 

 but animal food — milk, blood, and flesh — and they were 

 fit for any fatigue or danger. Their faces were proud, 



