NOTES ON THE MASAI 



be brought to terms than those who have nothing 

 so valuable to lose. 



As a matter of fact it is said the white man and 



the Masai have never had it out. When the English, 



a few years since, were engaged in opening the country 



^ey carried on quite a stoutly contested little war 



Hirith the Wakamba. These people put up so good 



H fight that the English anticipated a most bitter 



struggle with the Masai, whose territory lay next 



beyond. To their surprise the Masai made peace. 



"We have watched the war with the Wakamba," 

 they said, in effect, "and we have seen the Wakamba 

 kill a great many of your men. But more of your 

 men came in always; and there were no more Wa- 

 kamba to come in and take the places of those who 

 were killed. We are not afraid. If we should war 

 with you, we would undoubtedly kill a great many of 

 you, and you would undoubtedly kill a great many of 

 us. But there can be no use in that. We want the 

 ranges for our cattle; you want a road. Let us, then, 

 agree." 



The result is that to-day the Masai look upon 

 themselves as an unconquered people, and bear 

 themselves — toward the other tribes — accordingly. 

 The shrewd common sense and observation evi- 

 denced above must have convinced them that war 

 now would be hopeless. 



315 



