20 NAIVASHA AND VICTORIA NYANZA 



smaller buff-backed heron, which hardly take the 

 trouble to move as one approaches ; they love to 

 feed among the herds of native cattle, often perching 

 upon the backs of the beasts, as one sees them do in 

 Egypt. Crowned cranes, generally in pairs, stride 

 conceitedly about within a dozen yards of one, 

 evidently conscious of the law that protects them. 



Of big game, though there is plenty in the dis- 

 trict, one does not see very much on the eastern 

 side of the lake. Here on the wide grassy flats and 

 on the lower slopes of the hills immense flocks of 

 goats and sheep find pasture. At the time of my 

 visit there were driven into the ' boma ' near the 

 camp nearly 20,000 bleating animals every even- 

 ing, to the accompaniment of much shrill whistling 

 from the Masai boys who tend them. Ugly little 

 savages are these Masai boys, clothed in little else 

 than a long spear and round their necks a string of 

 beads or empty cartridge-cases. It is a pretty sight 

 to see a herd of the graceful little Thomson's gazelle 

 (or Tommies, as they are locally called) mingling 

 with a flock of sheep and goats, and following with 

 the others when the boys whistle, or even needing 

 a prod with the spear-point to make them move on 

 faster. Whether they do it for amusement or for 

 the sake of companionship, or for a better protection 

 against their enemies, the prowling leopard and lion, 

 who shall say ? Grant's gazelle, a somewhat larger 

 animal with beautifully curved horns, is found here 

 too ; but they are not so tame as the former, and go 



