NOTES ON THE MASAI 



former days the traveller on entering Masailand 

 was met by a sub-chief. This man planted his 

 long spear upright in the ground, and the intending 

 traveller flung over it coils of the heavy wire. A 

 very generous traveller who completely covered the 

 spear then had no more trouble. One less lavish 

 was likely to be held up for further impositions as 

 he penetrated the country. This tax was called the 

 honga. 



The Masai language is one of the most difficult of 

 all the native tongues. In fact, the white man is 

 almost completely unable even to pronounce many 

 of the words. V., who is a "Masai-man " who knows 

 them intimately, and who possesses their confidence, 

 does not pretend to talk with them in their own 

 tongue, but employs the universal Swahili. 



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