AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



tell. Either the people must change their ideals and 

 become industrious — which is extremely unlikely — - 

 or they will degenerate. 



As a passing thought, it is a curious and for- 

 midable fact that the prohibition of intertribal 

 wars and forays all through East Central Africa 

 has already permitted the population to increase 

 to a point of discomfort. Many of the districts are 

 becoming so crowded as to overflow. What will 

 happen in the long run only time can tell — famine 

 and pestilence probably. Only famine and pestilence 

 are weakening things; while war at least hardens a 

 nation's fibre. This is not necessarily an argument 

 for war. Only everywhere in the world the white 

 man seems with the best of intentions to be upsetting 

 natural balances without substituting for them. We 

 are better at preventing things than causing them. 



At the age of thirty, or thereabout, the El- 

 morani becomes an Elder. He may now drink and 

 smoke, vices that in the Spartan days of his military 

 service were rigourously denied him. He may also 

 take a wife or wives, according to his means, and 

 keep herds of cattle. His wives he purchases from 

 their parents, the usual medium of payment being 

 cows or sheep. The young women who have been 

 living in the El-morani village are considered quite 

 as desirable as the young virgins. If there are 



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