AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



barring occasional personal idiosyncrasy, is about all. 

 For these things he will pay also in sheep. Masai 

 curios are particularly difficult to get hold of. I 

 rather like them for their independence in that 

 respect. I certainly should refuse to sell my tennis 

 shoes from my feet merely because some casual 

 Chinaman happened to admire them! 



The women seem to occupy a position quite satis- 

 factory to themselves. To be sure they do the work; 

 but there is not much work! They appear to be 

 well treated; at least they are always in good spirits, 

 laughing and joking with each other, and always 

 ready with quick repartee to remarks flung at them 

 by the safari boys. They visited camp freely, and 

 would sit down for a good lively afternoon of joking. 

 Their expressions were quizzical with a sly intelli- 

 gent humour. In spite of the apparent unabashed 

 freedom of their deportment they always behaved 

 with the utmost circumspection; nor did our boys 

 ever attempt any familiarity. The unobtrusive 

 lounging presence in the background of two warriors 

 with long spears may have had something to do 

 with this. 



The Masai government is centred in an overlord 

 or king. His orders seem to be implicitly obeyed. 

 The present king I do not know, as the old king, 

 Lenani, has just died at an advanced age. In 



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