TO THE UASIN GISHU 407 



of life. They have long been accustomed to kill with the 

 spear lions which become man-eaters or which molest their 

 cattle overmuch; and the peace which British rule has im- 

 posed upon them a peace so welcome to the weaker, so 

 irksome to the predatory, tribes has left lion killing one 

 of the few pursuits in which glory can be won by a young 

 warrior. When it was told them that if they wished they 

 could come to hunt lions at Sergoi eight hundred warriors 

 volunteered, and much heart-burning was caused in choos- 

 ing the sixty or seventy who were allowed the privilege. 

 They stipulated, however, that they should not be used 

 merely as beaters, but should kill the lion themselves, and 

 refused to come unless with this understanding. 



The day before we reached Sergoi they had gone out, 

 and had killed a lion and lioness; the beasts were put up 

 from a small covert and despatched with the heavy throw- 

 ing spears on the instant, before they offered, or indeed 

 had the chance to offer, any resistance. The day after our 

 arrival there was mist and cold rain, and we found no 

 lions. Next day, November 20th, we were successful. 



We started immediately after breakfast. Kirke, Skally, 

 Mouton, Jordaan, Mr. and Mrs. Corbett, Captain Chap- 

 man, and our party, were on horseback; of course we car- 

 ried our rifles, but our duty was merely to round up the 

 lion and hold him, if he went off so far in advance that even 

 the Nandi runners could not overtake him. We intended 

 to beat the country toward some shallow, swampy valleys 

 twelve miles distant. 



In an hour we overtook the Nandi warriors, who were 

 advancing across the rolling, grassy plains in a long line, 

 with intervals of six or eight yards between the men. They 

 were splendid savages, stark naked, lithe as panthers, the 

 muscles rippling under their smooth dark skins; all their 

 lives they had lived on nothing but animal food, milk, 

 blood, and flesh, and they were fit for any fatigue or danger. 

 Their faces were proud, cruel, fearless; as they ran they 

 moved with long springy strides. Their head-dresses were 



