144 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



of a row of long white wooden skewers gives one 

 a peculiarly porcupinish look ; or a row of little 

 brass danglers hints of wealth. Having thus 

 finished off his head, your savage clasps around 

 his neck various strings of beads ; or collars of 

 iron or copper wire, polished to the point of 

 glitter ; puts on a half-dozen armlets and leglets 

 of the same ; ties on a narrow bead belt, in which 

 is thrust a short sword ; anoints himself all 

 over with reddened castor oil until he glistens 

 and shines in the sun ; rubs his legs with white 

 clay and traces patterns therein ; seizes his long- 

 bladed spear, and is ready for the city. Oh, no ! 

 I forgot and he probably came near doing so 

 his strip of 'Mericani.* This was originally 

 white, but constant wear over castor oil has 

 turned it a uniform and beautiful brown. 



The purpose of this is ornament, and it is so 

 worn. There has been an attempt, I understand, 

 to force these innocent children to some sort of 

 conventional decency while actually in the 

 streets of Nairobi. It was too large an order. 

 Some bring in clothes, to be sure, because the 

 white man asks it ; but why no sensible man could 

 say. They are hung from one shoulder, flap 

 merrily in the breeze, and are always quite 



* White cotton cloth. 



