MEN OF THE TREES 



members of the Klama met, and when they had con- 

 ferred together, they agreed that these were the very 

 people referred to in the prophecy of Munyai. 



It was such prophecies, as these handed down by word 

 of mouth, through the members of the Kiama, that 

 paved the way for the coming of the white man. Im- 

 bued with the teaching of the past, they look back upon 

 a golden age, and have a profound belief that the British 

 are the chosen means to assist them in their ultimate re- 

 turn to prosperity. It can be readily understood why 

 it was that our early explorers made such a good impres- 

 sion upon the indigenous tribes. Did they not represent 

 a great white sovereign over the seas who stood for 

 order and justice? In their vivid imagination the Af- 

 ricans began to conjure up pictures of a great future. 

 Here was something akin to their own ancient throne 

 surrounded with all its regal power. Herein, I venture 

 to suggest, lies the secret which enabled Great Britain 

 to establish a reign of peace among these tribes which 

 for a time had apparently lapsed into barbarity. 



But what of the Kiama today? To the casual observer 

 it would appear that the Kiama had ceased to function 

 in any but local, civil and religious duties. Its members 

 settle boundary disputes, try cases of murder, theft, se- 

 duction, and officiate at the sacrifices to "Mwininyaga" 

 the Great White Spirit. In spite of the fact that the 

 Kiama is represented today by many of the sons or 

 descendants of the very seers who, by their favourable 

 prophecies, prepared the way for the coming of the 



148 



