Ill 



RACES AND CLASSES 



3* 



to the east. They rely principally on poisoned 

 arrows, to which weapon their country, which is very 

 heavily bushed, lends itself admirably. There are 

 probably at the present day at least 350,000 in the 

 tribe, but though they are remote from civilisation and 

 their country is both difficult and unhealthy, yet they 

 have given the British Government very little trouble. 

 The section of the tribe who live round our abandoned 

 station of Mumoni are perhaps not yet thoroughly 

 acquiescent in our rule ; but that in so short a time and 

 by such peaceful methods this large tribe should be 

 settling down quietly to accept our administration is a 

 very eloquent testimony to the splendid work done by 

 the small band of officers stationed in Kitui, one of the 

 most depressing and unhealthy spots in the Protectorate. 

 More especially does this apply to the late Mr. J. B. 

 Ainsworth, whose efforts in achieving so satisfactory a 

 result undoubtedly cost him his life. 



The Wa-Kamba are somewhat unattractive in 

 appearance and character, very much given to drunken- 

 ness, and without morals of any sort. They are both 

 a pastoral and agricultural race. Their cattle have 

 increased in number greatly lately, and as they have 

 not for some time suffered from famine, which from the 

 nature of their country must occur periodically, they 

 are at present very well off. Owing to this fact they 

 have not to any extent augmented the labour market, 

 but it is reasonable to expect that they will do so in 

 the future. There are good hopes that this tribe may 

 prove of very considerable service to the Protectorate. 

 They are by no means unintelligent, and must clearly 

 be amenable to authority. In one respect they surpass 

 any natives with whom I have come in contact, and 

 that is in the extraordinary and intuitive grasp they 



