HORNS AND THORNS 53 



man's domination, and also, in no small measure, to 

 their own customs and the moral laxity of the last few 

 decades. When tribal warfare and raids were almost 

 continuous, the El Moran had plenty to occupy his 

 mind and time, but now that these outlets for his 

 energy have been curtailed, sexual excesses are bringing 

 about a decadence of the race. 



The warriors have always been quartered by them- 

 selves, where they Hved in a state of free love with the 

 young women of the tribe. Girls were not allowed to 

 remain true to any one man, but were considered com- 

 munity property within the kraals of the El Moran. 

 This custom, and the fact that the young men are not 

 allowed to marry until after their term of service as 

 warriors, has brought about an unusual condition, 

 unique even among the tribes of Africa. 



When the boy returned with the water we bade 

 good-by to the old chief and the three El Moran, then 

 continued on our journey which we found interesting 

 every mile of the way. We got into some mud which 

 made things a Httle more difficult, but the constantly 

 changing views of mountain and plain, with herds of 

 zebra, wildebeest, kongoni, and the smaller gazelles 

 £jways in sight made it a memorable journey. We 

 arrived in Nairobi after dark, tired, dusty, and happy. 



The next day we were again on the road en route to 

 our base camp in the Aberdare Mountains. Upon 

 arrival there we had traveled six hundred thirty-six 

 miles since leaving Mombasa and had risen from sea 

 level to an altitude of eight thousand eight hundred 

 feet. Mike was growing wheat on these high slopes 

 and had constructed a very comfortable house where 

 we were welcomed by Mona and Pat. 



