INTO THE GREAT RIFT 223 



she, of course, did not know this, and we had an 

 exciting but short race which the galloping lady won 

 by diving into Lake Baringo and leaving us stuck in 

 the mud. 



Our camp had been estabhshed several days, when 

 early one morning a boy came running in wildly shout- 

 ing that we were being attacked by a horde of savages 

 and should all be killed I This was quite interesting 

 news so early in the day; so unusual, in fact, that all 

 of us left our cots in a hurry to hustle out and meet 

 the visitors. A band of warriors in full regaha, with 

 the early sun gHnting on their spears, were rushing 

 pell-mell toward the camp, uttering bloodcurdhng 

 war whoops as they swept forward. It looked serious, 

 but our judgment prevented us from shooting, because 

 we reahzed that this might be only a prank. If any 

 of the warriors were killed or wounded, it would then 

 turn into a real raid, without much hope of our surviv- 

 ing, so with bated breath we waited to see what would 

 happen. Shortly they rushed up, prancing like high- 

 spirited horses, with shields thrust forward and spears 

 held on high, and when almost upon us we could see 

 they were laughing. I cannot recall whether we 

 laughed or not, but I do remember I was much reheved. 

 After the dust had settled the chief explained they 

 were out seeking excitement, and sighting our camp 

 had dropped in to say "good morning!" I was not 

 able to ascertain whether or not the young warriors 

 in this district still made raids upon neighboring 

 tribes, but this band seemed very keen to engage 

 someone in battle, and it is more than possible in 

 remote districts such as this that some tribal conflicts 

 still occur. 



