THE DANCE OF THE TREES 



against their much hated foes, but now a sudden change 

 passed over their ranks. It seemed as though they had re- 

 leased the grip on their spears and then tightened it again. 

 I sensed bitter disappointment, estrangement and ani- 

 mosity, then, rapidly turning to hostility. But I repeated, 

 "I agree with the Masai, you are in truth Torest Destroy- 

 ers.' Too long have you cut down and burned the old 

 forests to make your farms, and as you have advanced 

 you have left a trail of ruin behind you. You have de- 

 stroyed the forests that were your heritage, the forests 

 that you should pass on to your sons. If you continue in 

 your present ways they will not even last your own life- 

 time. You must all know that this tree destruction can- 

 not go on for ever. Already your women have to go two 

 or three days' journey to fetch fuel with which to cook 

 your food. Soon there will be no more trees left." 



A great silence had fallen upon the assembled throng. 

 As I paused for a moment one could only hear a gentle 

 breeze moving the leaves of the great solitary tree in the 

 centre of the arena. Instinctively I dropped my voice as 

 I continued: 



"Since the coming of the white man many of you have 

 learned how to build better huts and for better huts you 

 will want more wood. The white man has brought the 

 gari-ya-moshi, the steam engine and train, and you no 

 longer have to walk when you want to go to distant 

 towns to market your produce. But the gari-ya-moshi 

 needs fuel which is got from the forests. The white man 

 as you know is here to help you, and you have already 



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