MASAI, TURKAXA, SUK, XAXDI, ETC. 



821 



some of tlie agricultural Masai the leather surface is left uncovered with 

 colour. The colours used in painting these shields are red and white 

 (made from ferruginous clay and kaolin), and black (charcoal), and some- 

 times blue or yellowish brown, the source of these pigments being unknown 

 to me.* The designs on the shields are most varied, and each clan or 

 tribal division has its own. 



So many of the Masai having died through civil wars and thiM-esult- of 

 the cattle plague, some of these tribes or clans have dwindled to a few scattered 

 individuals. Among such a |)eople as the Gwas* Xgishu ]Masai, who, though 

 still agriculturists, are to the full as brave and warlike as their pastoral 

 kinsmen, very diverse patterns of shield decoration may be met with in 

 the same company of warriors, the result, no doubt, of refugees from 



458. BOWS Oi' GWAS' XGISHU MASAI 



extinguished clans having joined them from time to time. The designs 

 on the shields of the Eastern Masai are well illustrated in ]\Ir. Hinde's 

 book, " The Last of the Masai." .Some of these designs are also found 

 within the Eift Valley. Others may be seen in my photographs. This 

 type of Masai shield, with the bold designs in black, white, and red. 

 extends to the south-east coast of the Victoria Xyanza (in common with 

 other ]Masai weapons), among the Shashi people, who. though a B;intu 

 tribe speaking a language related to Kinyamwezi. liave nevertheless 

 adopted many ]Masai customs. The remarkable similarity also between 

 the shields of the Zulu and the Masai has frequently attracted the 

 attention of writers on Africa. The resemblance also extends to head- 

 dresses and the leg ornaments of white hair. It is possible that the Zulu 



* Probably clays and ashes. 



