xxi THE MILITARY AND POLICE FORCES 211 



the cost of the same, if it be borne at all, should fall 

 on the shoulders of the home Government which 

 enforces their retention. 



To these arguments those who are anxious to retain 

 the troops reply : With regard to the safety of Nairobi 

 and of the close white settlement around it, the great 

 probability is that there is no need for alarm. But on 

 this point probability is not enough. Where the safety of 

 white women and children is concerned, not to mention 

 the interests of the whole population, black and white, 

 certainty, humanly speaking, is required. Neither the 

 Kikuyu nor the Masai have ever been subdued by force 

 of arms, and the latter at all events hold Europeans in 

 detestation, if not contempt. It is admitted that, were 

 the native population to make a sudden and treacherous 

 attack on the peaceful inhabitants of the town, the 

 garrison would be powerless to check them. But it is 

 not a defensive force that can anywhere prevent 

 attacks on an undefended town. Such attacks are 

 prevented solely by the fear of reprisal. This fear of 

 reprisal and punishment is kept alive by the sight of a 

 military force which is seen daily and is known to be 

 prepared to inflict instant punishment. Further, that 

 though such a garrison is a certain expense, a consider- 

 able proportion of that expense is re-spent in the town, 

 the attractions of which are also incidentally much 

 increased. 



I must confess that the latter set of arguments have 

 with me the greater weight. Two companies of native 

 infantry appear to constitute a force dangerously small 

 to guarantee the safety of the white population. Many 

 people would much like to see the addition of a battery 

 of screw guns. It is probable that those of an obsolete 

 pattern could be easily obtained from India. One 



p 2 



