RIDING THE BULL 



wished to see me. There was already a queue of people 

 waiting to be interviewed, and I indicated that these new- 

 comers should wait until I was disengaged. My work in 

 the office kept me till lunch time and when I went in the 

 direction of my bungalow I found a number of Morans 

 lined up. Approaching them I demanded, "What do you 

 want?" One of their number stepped forward and point- 

 ing to his wrist said, "Bwona nataka saa," meaning 

 "Master, I want a watch." I abruptly retorted, "I don't 

 know what you are talking about." Turning to my forest 

 guard, I said "Drive these foolish men." He thereupon 

 dismissed them while I proceeded to lunch. 



These young warriors returned to their respective vil- 

 lages and immediately went to their chiefs and said, "Why 

 was that Master kali with us?" "Why did he drive us?" 

 "What did you say?" replied their chiefs. "We only asked 

 him for a *saa,' " ^ said they. "Ah, that is not a *saa,' that is 

 a badge, and you only get that badge when you promise 

 to be his men, and plant trees and protect the forests." 

 So back they came from their distant villages, many of 

 them having travelled sixty or seventy miles, and again 

 they presented themselves at my camp. Again I was busily 

 engaged in a heavy day's work in the office, but at lunch 

 time I went to them and said, "What do you want?" 

 One lad stepped out from the rest and replied, "Bwana, 

 we want a badge, because we want to be your men. We 

 want to protect the forests and plant trees everywhere." 

 "Splendid," I replied. "Next week you may present your- 



1 Saa — watch. 



39 



