72 UNDER THE AFRICAN SUN 



coveted iron bracelets. It was a barefaced murder this slaying 

 of the little urchin in the sight of friend and foe. Of course it 

 was impossible to discover afterwards the villain among the 

 many thousands who flocked like vultures to the slaughter. 

 In the relentless pursuit of the enemy, these savage allies 

 rendered considerable assistance to the Government. Among 

 the slain in the stronghold were found the principal hostile 

 leaders ; and the enemy thereafter no longer made a stand. 

 As we advanced, they evacuated their villages and fled 

 before us. 



The Kavirondo are very clever at trapping quails ; and as 

 they are also skilful in basket-work, each quail is housed in a 

 tiny basket-cage. A number of these baskets are suspended 

 from a strong pole firmly planted in the ground, and the call 

 of the captured birds lures others to the traps set for them. In 

 some of the more remote villages the natives are quite proud 

 of their captured quails and will not sell even a single one at 

 anv price ; but nearer the caravan route quails can be bought, 

 though usually rather dear. 



In the Wakitosh expedition the Government captured many 

 hundred head of cattle. Half of what our allies laid hands 

 on they were allowed to retain, but the other half they had, 

 according to agreement, to hand over to the Government. 



Though the enemy had comparatively few killed, the loss 

 they suffered was a severe punishment to them ; villages were 

 burnt to the ground, a serious matter in a district where wood 

 for rebuilding the huts had to be fetched from a considerable 

 distance ; standing crops were destroyed ; vast stores of corn 

 found in the villages were used up by the invading army ; and 

 cattle, their most valuable possession, were captured by the 

 hundred. 



I was present when a tusk of ivory was picked up with a 

 bunch of leaves attached to it. It was the equivalent of the 

 white flag amongst European combatants, a signal of submis- 

 sion ; and our victorious leader now withdrew the invading 

 forces from the district. Some of the captured women were 

 then liberated, provided with food, and sent back to their homes. 

 They were to convey, on behalf of the Government, assurances 

 to the enemy that all the captives, women and children, would 

 be liberated as soon as peace was established, and that the 

 Government had no intention of keeping slaves. This must 



