AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



first they seemed not averse, but as soon as they 

 realized the milk was not for our own consumption, 

 they turned their backs on poor Sabakaki and re- 

 fused to have anything more to do with us. 



These Masai are very difficult to trade with. 

 Their only willing barter is done in sheep. These 

 they seem to consider legitimate objects of commerce. 



A short distance from our camp stood three white- 

 washed round houses with thatched, conical roofs, 

 property of a trader named Agate. He was away 

 at the time of our visit. 



After an early morning but vain attempt to get 

 Billy a shot at a lion* we set out for our distant blue 

 mountains. The day was a journey over plains of 

 great variegation. At times they were covered with 

 thin scrub; at others with small groves; or again 

 they were open and grassy. Always they undulated 

 gently, so from their tops one never saw as far as 

 he thought he was going to see. As landmark we 

 steered by a good-sized butte named Donya Rasha. 



Memba Sasa and I marched ahead on foot. In 

 this thin scrub we got glimpses of many beasts. At 

 one time we were within fifty yards of a band of 

 magnificent eland. By fleeting glimpses we saw also 

 many wildebeeste and zebra, with occasionally one 

 of the smaller grass antelope. Finally, in an open 



*See *The Land of Footprints." 



288 



