190 



IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap. 



extracted from the bark of the mimosa tree, which 

 is said to render the luoran utterly fearless and 

 indifferent to danger of any kind. 



Abbudi told me how very proud he felt when for 

 the first time he arrayed himself for an expedition 

 of this kind in the full panoply of war. This con- 

 sists of a weird head-dress, made of ostrich feathers, 

 fixed firmly into a leather frame which encircles the 

 face and gives a most ferocious expression to it. 

 Occasionally a warrior is seen wearing a busby 

 made of the head and mane of a lion, but he is 

 not allowed to wear this unless he has killed one of 

 these beasts with his spear. A long piece of cloth 

 with a red stripe down the middle is worn round 

 the neck and flowing out behind. A cape of hawks' 

 feathers covers the shoulders, while round the legs 

 are placed anklets made of the long hair of the 

 collabus monkey. A rude belt is fastened round the 

 waist, and this secures the short sword at his right 

 side, while the knobkerry is thrust through on the 

 left. The long spear is carried in the right hand 

 and the curiously emblazoned shield in the left. 



When a body of young warriors set proudly 

 out on the warpath arrayed in this weird fashion, 

 they formed a truly savage and imposing spectacle, 

 and it is no wonder that they inspired terror where- 

 ever they went. 



In their hours of leisure the Masai are a grave 



