356 THE LAND OF THE LION 
of a fat land, counting his flocks by hundreds or thous- 
ands. These grow enormously, while he does nothing 
but sit in the sun. His wives keep his hut daubed with 
cow-dung and when his cattle have browsed down the 
neighbouring pastures, they pack for him all his belong- 
ings on their own or the donkeys’ backs and move on to 
pastures new. He strolls ahead, chatting with the other 
‘old men” while a new village arises, and its thorn Boma 
is put up. Now, how does a yearly tax of three rupees 
a hut affect this gentleman of means and leisure? It 
affects him not at all. His cows are worth one hundred 
rupees each, and he has several hundreds, sometimes 
several thousands of them. His bullocks are almost as 
numerous, and these he values not because he trains them 
to labour or intends selling them to the settler, for he scoffs 
at the idea of parting with any but the sick sheep or 
goats, or barren cows. He values them for their blood, 
which once in every few weeks he draws from them 
and drinks. He will sell nothing and he will till the 
ground nowhere. 
In his case the fixed tax is an absurdity. There are 
Massai to-day whose herds in the open market would 
fetch $50,000, and these enormous herds are in splendid 
condition and are increasing year by year. 
The Massai should be taxed on his herds, every cow 
should pay a tax, and they should be forced to sell at least 
some portion of their cattle. Why should the very best 
grazing land of Africa be given over to nomads who can- 
not be induced to do anything for their living? 
Why again should not every native in East Africa be 
told to present himself for Government registration? 
Such registration could be arranged at the various tribal 
posts by the civil authorities. If on presenting himself 
a native could show a certificate to prove he had worked 
either for the Government or for a settler, for two or three 
