GLIMPSES OF EAST AFRICA AND ZANZIBAR 



occasion they even flew about in dozens in my bed- 

 room, making hair-dressing a difficulty. It is dif- 

 ficult to expel them, as they are not easily got at. 

 The askaris took some honey out of the regimental 

 store, made by bees which had settled there ; but 

 they were finally smoked out and expelled, as they 

 stung the sentry when on duty. 



At the end of March, 1906, Nairobi had a visit 

 from the Duke and Duchess of Connaught ; they 

 were received in state, and many presentations were 

 made. The Duke inspected the King's African 

 Rifles, and after that ceremony was over, the Masai, 

 collected from the smTounding district, gave a war 

 dance in full war paint and feathers. Of course 

 while waiting before the dance some of the wild 

 Masai went ofi" their heads with excitement and ran 

 amuk, but were promptly chased and caught by one 

 of their own friends, or one of the tame Masai police- 

 men, who knocked them on the head with a knob- 

 kerry or held them down so that they should not 

 spear any one. They begin this by dancing up and 

 down, yelling and jumping the while, then run off"; 

 but they are watched by their less excitable fellows, 

 and when getting beyond themselves are held down 

 by the shoulders. Five hundred Masai warriors 

 gathered together for the dance ; some had very 

 nice lions' manes for their head-dresses ; one or two 

 had lovely leopard skin flaps behind, others only 

 goat skins. 



88 



