PEOPLE 



his long-bladed spear, and is ready for the city. 

 Oh, no! I forgot — and he probably came near doing 

 so — his strip of 'Mericani.* This was originally 

 white, but constant wear over castor oil has turned 

 it a uniform and beautiful brown. 



The purpose of this is ornament, and it is so worn. 

 There has been an attempt, I understand, to force 

 these innocent children to some sort of conventional 

 decency while actually in the streets of Nairobi. 

 It was too large an order. Some bring in clothes, 

 to be sure, because the white man asks it; but why 

 no sensible man could say. They are hung from one 

 shoulder, flap merrily in the breeze, and are always 

 quite frankly tucked up about the neck or under 

 the arms when the wearer happens to be in haste. 

 As a matter of fact, these savages are so beautifully 

 and smoothly formed; their red-brown or chocolate- 

 brown skin is so fine in texture, and their complete 

 unconsciousness so genuine that in an hour the new- 

 comer is quite accustomed to their nakedness. 



These proud youths wander mincingly down the 

 street with an expression of the most fatuous and 

 good-natured satisfaction with themselves. To 

 their minds they have evidently done every last 

 thing that human ingenuity or convention could 

 encompass. 



*White cotten cloth. 



129 



