AWAY FROM NYERI 



whilst ostrich feather face-frames and bead ornaments 

 completed the get-up. As a rule their tribe, the 

 Kikiyu, so far as I could see, were of poor physique 

 and smaller than their warlike neighbours the Masai, 

 but these two men were of good build. They carried 

 long spears and shields made of buffalo hide, and 

 marched ahead of the safari with an air of owning the 

 whole veldt. Very likely it was the greatest occasion 

 of their lives. 



Just before we trekked out of Nyeri I was greatly 

 interested in watching some convicts at work. There 

 were three of them, connected by long chains and 

 guarded by an Askari or native soldier. I have seldom 

 seen native prisoners look more happy (not even in 

 Borneo) or better cared for. They were quietly 

 chatting and laughing together, and did not seem to 

 feel their position in the least degree. Perhaps they 

 felt they were innocent. 



We had been on the march for about three hours 

 when we were met by two Masai whom Cole had sent 

 in place of the first pair of guides. From these I learnt 

 that it would be impossible to reach Cole's camp that 

 night, so I scribbled a note to him explaining matters 

 and sent one of the guides back with it, knowing, of 

 course, that he would go at a jog trot, and cover the 

 ground in half the time my safari could do it in. 



After a while we reached the Amboni River, on the 

 other side of which I decided to camp. 



185 



