344 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



entrance to this compound may be closed by 

 thorn bush, so that at night, when the lions are 

 abroad, the Masai and all his herds dwell quite 

 peaceably and safely inside the boma. Twelve 

 to twenty huts constitute a village. 



When the grass is fed down, the village moves 

 to a new location. There is some regulation about 

 this, determined by the overchiefs, so that one 

 village does not interfere with another. Beside 

 the few articles of value or of domestic use, the 

 only things carried away from an old village are 

 the strongly-woven shield-shaped doors. These 

 are strapped along the flanks of the donkeys, 

 while the other goods rest between. A donkey 

 pack, Masai fashion, is a marvellous affair that 

 would not stay on ten minutes for a white man. 



The Masai perform no agriculture whatever, nor 

 will they eat game meat. They have no desire 

 whatever for any of the white man's provisions 

 except sugar. In fact, their sole habitual diet is 

 mixed cow's blood and milk no fruits, no 

 vegetables, no grains, rarely flesh ; a striking 

 commentary on extreme vegetarian claims. The 

 blood they obtain by shooting a very sharp-pointed 

 arrow into the neck vein of the cow. After the 

 requisite amount has been drained, the wound is 

 closed and the animal turned into the herd to 



