MEN OF THE TREES 



the address awaiting them. For this occasion I had chosen 

 Chief Josiah to be my interpreter. He was one of the 

 younger chiefs and I had already received able assistance 

 from him at previous times, for he was a brilliant orator 

 and most popular with the people. Silence was called for, 

 as I mounted the dais, which had been previously con- 

 structed and in Ki-swahili I bid them welcome. 



"Men and Warriors," I said, *'I have asked you here 

 to dance, and it is my wish that you should enjoy your- 

 selves, but there is something I would first like to tell you, 

 something very important that you should know, for it 

 is the business of everybody. A reproach hangs over your 

 heads. The Masai are calling you "Forest Destroyers." 



At the very mention of the name of their hereditary 

 enemy — the Masai — there was a great stir through the 

 ranks and three thousand spears flashed in the sunlight. 

 If I had said, "follow me, we will raid the Masai, we will 

 punish them," every warrior would have followed me 

 then and there. They were properly worked up to do 

 something. Nothing would have pleased them so well at 

 this moment as to have gone on a foraging raid. But they 

 were doomed to disappointment for I continued, "I 

 agree with the Masai — you are 'Forest Destroyers.' " 

 Josiah thought he had misunderstood me and asked me if 

 I really meant to say that. I replied that I did and he 

 literally interpreted. To my dying day I shall never for- 

 get the next few seconds that followed. The reaction of 

 my words was intense. At one moment these warriors 

 had been prepared to die with me — brothers in arms — 



30 



