356 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



The Masai has very little use for white man's 

 products. He will trade for squares of cloth, 

 beads of certain kinds and in a limited quantity, 

 brass and iron wire of heavy gauge, blankets and 

 sugar. That, barring occasional personal idio- 

 syncrasy, is about all. For these things he 

 will pay also in sheep. Masai curios are particu- 

 larly difficult to get hold of. I rather like them 

 for their independence in that respect. I cer- 

 tainly should refuse to sell my tennis shoes from 

 my feet merely because some casual Chinaman 

 happened to admire them ! 



The women seem to occupy a position quite 

 satisfactory to themselves. To be sure they do 

 the work ; but there is not much work ! They 

 appear to be well treated ; at least they are 

 always in good spirits, laughing and joking with 

 each other, and always ready with quick repartee 

 to remarks flung at them by the safari boys. 

 They visited camp freely, and would sit down 

 for a good lively afternoon of joking. Their 

 expressions were quizzical, with a shy intelligent 

 humour. In spite of the apparent unabashed 

 freedom of their deportment they always be- 

 haved with the utmost circumspection ; nor 

 did our boys ever attempt any familiarity. The 

 unobtrusive lounging presence in the background 



