i88 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap. 



after day, without showing the slightest sign of 

 fatigue. 



The mo7'an also takes a great delight in keeping 

 his weapons brightly polished and ready at any 

 moment for the fray. These consist of a spear, 

 short sword and knobkerry. The Masai spear is a 

 most formidable-looking weapon with a blade about 

 two and a half feet long with a uniform width of 

 about two inches almost to the point. The short 

 two-edged sword is sheathed in a rude scab- 

 bard of tough hide, and is worn strapped to the 

 waist by means of a home-made belt. The knob- 

 kerry is a club made of very hard wood, principally 

 used to throw at an enemy before coming to close 

 quarters with the spear, and also to kill any weak, 

 old, or useless captured women by knocking them 

 on the head with it, as the Masai scorn to sully 

 their spears with woman's blood. 



The Masai shields are elliptical in shape— about 

 three feet six inches long by two feet broad. They 

 are generally made of buffalo hide and often orna- 

 mented with very curious and interesting designs 

 painted in white or red clay and black charcoal, 

 the right half of the shield being often different in 

 design from the left. As a rule they are not made 

 by the Masai themselves, but by the Wandorobo, 

 a subject tribe who hunt game for food and pre- 



