CHAPTER VIII 



THE MASAI 



Mount Ngong and the first medicine-man — the three classes — 

 kraals — Masai of Nilotic stock — dress and ornaments — bad 

 eyes — customs — their dead — milkwomen — immorality — 

 weapons — woman's work. 



So often I refer to men of different tribes that it 

 might not come amiss if I said a little about those 

 with whom I came most in contact, because, up to 

 the present, they have been very different in manners, 

 customs and appearance ; although coming more 

 into contact with civilisation will, in the future, 

 alter that, levelling down their distinctions. They 

 make a most interesting study. The old warlike 

 tribe of Masai claim first attention, as so much has 

 already been heard of them, and they used to be 

 such a terror in the country, now calming down 

 and becoming the most amenable of British subjects. 

 From the back verandah of our bungalow in 

 Nairobi, looking far over the wide stretch of plain 

 to the right, there is a range of hills, the Ngong 

 Hills, to be seen. In certain seasons of the year, 

 when the morning sun shines bright and clear, the 

 hills look within easy walking distance, and one 



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