THE SIMPLE LIFE 



over-excited and run amuk, and had stabbed the 

 other before he could be stopped. It is a little 

 way they have. 



The grass fires are beautiful in the distance but 

 not pleasant when too close. My bungalow was 

 surrounded by high grass ; neither the garden next 

 door nor my own had yet been made, but they 

 were covered by the same high grass. Some one 

 had set the grass outside alight and the wind swept 

 the fire in our direction, so our grass caught fire too. 

 It was fairly exciting for a little while, to be sur- 

 rounded by burning grass, the smoke was blind- 

 ing, and the flames heated the glass in the windows, 

 which I ran to shut. All my boys and those from 

 next door turned out with pails and jugs of water, 

 and they ran about brushing, beating, and stamping 

 out the flames so the bungalow should not catch 

 alight. I ran from window to window, watching 

 and giving orders, while the flames rose to a greater 

 height than I was. 



Luckily no damage was done, and the boys 

 thoroughly enjoyed the excitement. 



My husband took out a gun licence for birds, 

 so very often we went for long tramps. At first I 

 was fearfully frightened of the ticks and snakes, as 

 the grass was over waist-high in places. I remem- 

 ber on one occasion feeling very nervous when 

 walking single file behind my husband along a little 

 native path, closely followed by two warlike Masai, 



57 



