THE LOWER BENCHES. 325 



we fell into conversation. He and C. were al- 

 ready old acquaintances. The man, I found, was 

 shy about talking of the things that interested 

 him; but as they most decidedly interested us 

 also we managed to convey an impression of 

 our sincerity. Thereafter he was most friendly. 

 His helpfulness, kindness, and courtesy could not 

 have been bettered. He lent us his own boy as 

 guide down through the canons of the Narossara 

 to the Lower Benches, where we hoped to find 

 kudu ; he offered store-room to such of our 

 supplies as we intended holding in reserve ; he 

 sent us sheep and eggs as a welcome variety to 

 our game diet ; and in addition he gave us Masai 

 implements and ornaments we could not possibly 

 have acquired in any other way. It is impossible 

 to buy the personal belongings of this proud 

 and independent people at any price. The price 

 of a spear ordinarily runs about two rupees' worth, 

 when one trades with any other tribe. I know 

 of a case where a Masai was offered fifty rupees 

 for his weapon, but refused scornfully. V. ac- 

 quired these things through friendship ; and 

 after we had gained his, he was most generous 

 with them. Thus he presented us with a thing 

 almost impossible to get and seen rarely outside 

 of museums the Masai war bonnet, made of the 



