NOTES ON THE MASAI 



determined by the overchiefs, so that one village 

 does not interfere with another. Beside the few 

 articles of value or of domestic use, the only things 

 carried away from an old village are the strongly 

 woven shield-shaped doors. These are strapped 

 along the flanks of the donkeys, while the other 

 goods rest between. A donkey pack, Masai fashion, 

 is a marvellous affair that would not stay on ten 

 minutes for a white man. 



The Masai perform no agriculture whatever, 

 nor will they eat game meat. They have no de- 

 sire for any of the white man's provisions except 

 sugar. In fact their sole habitual diet is mixed 

 cow's blood and milk — no fruits, no vegetables, 

 no grains, rarely flesh; a striking commentary 

 on extreme vegetarian claims. The blood they 

 obtain by shooting a very sharp-pointed arrow 

 into a neck vein of the cow. After the requisite 

 amount has been drained, the wound is closed 

 and the animal turned into the herd to recuper- 

 ate. The blood and milk are then shaken together 

 in long gourds. Certainly the race seems to 

 thrive on this strange diet. Only rarely, on 

 ceremonial occasions or when transportation is 

 difficult, do they eat mutton or goat flesh, but 

 never beef. 



Of labour then, about a Masai village, it follows 

 313 



