VII.] 



THE WAHUMBA. 



95 



voiir almost raw. They move from place to place in searcli of 

 pastm-e, sheltering themselves at night under a frame-work of 

 small branches covered with one or two dressed hides. Their 

 arms are short, heavy spears unfit for throwing, .and double- 

 edged swords similar to those worn by the Eoman Legionary, 

 and they also carry a huge shield like that of the Wadirigo. 



As might be expected from the nature of their arms, they 

 are more courageous than their neighbors, and, being great rob- 

 bers, are much feared. None but themselves and other mem- 

 bers of the Masai family have, they assert, any right to possess 

 cattle, and they therefore consider themselves perfectly justified 

 in " lifting " any they meet with. 



July, 

 1873. 



ENOEMOrS SYCAMORES. 



The last station in Ugogo is Mdaburu, distant one march 

 from Khoko, the limits of the two clearings being only a cou- 

 ple of miles apart. The fields were divided from each other 

 and the road by rough fences, and the ground seemed much 

 more carefully cultivated than usual. 



Mdaburu is intersected by a wide and deep nullah bearing 

 the same name. Even in the driest weather it contains large 

 pools of good water, while in the rainy season it becomes an 

 impetuous river, rushing down to the Lutiji, of which it is one 

 of the principal affluents. I questioned one of the natives, who 

 seemed more intelligent than his fellows, and ascertained that 



