THE LOWER BENCHES 



ifter he was most friendly. His helpfulness, kind- 

 less, and courtesy could not have been bettered. 



[e lent us his own boy as guide down through the 



fanons of the Narossara to the lower benches, where 



re hoped to find kudu; he offered store room to 



mch of our supplies as we intended holding in 



jserve; he sent us sheep and eggs as a welcome 

 variation of our game diet; and in addition he gave 

 IS Masai implements and ornaments we could not 

 >ossibly have acquired in any other way. It is 

 impossible to buy the personal belongings of this 

 iroud and independent people at any price. The 

 irice of a spear ordinarily runs about two rupees' 

 rorth, when one trades with any other tribe. I 

 :now of a case where a Masai was offered fifty 



ipees for his weapon, but refused scornfully. V. 



Lcquired these things through friendship; and after 



re had gained his, he was most generous with them. 



'hus he presented us with a thing almost impossible 



to get and seen rarely outside of museums — the 



[asai war bonnet made of the mane of a lion. It 

 is in shape and appearance, though not in colour, 

 ilmost exactly like the grenadier's shako of the last 

 ientury. In addition to this priceless trophy V. 

 lIso gave us samples of the cattle bells, both wooden 

 md metal, ivory ear ornaments, bead bracelets, 

 Jteel collars, circumcision knives, sword belts, and 



295 



