THE PLAINS. 103 



of the Masai be seen, with their little, long, skin and cow-dung covered huts, or 

 failing any sight of these, then patches of grass of brighter green and a few stones, 

 show where at some time zarebas have existed. 



During the rinderpest the Masai were sadly reduced in numbers, many died 

 of starvation on the loss of their cattle, others took refuge with different 

 agricultural tribes, among the members of which occasional Masai types of features 

 can now be traced, and many others joined the ranks of hunting tribes. Before 

 this scourge passed over the country the Masai must have extended very much 

 farther than they do at present. Remnants of old zarebas can be seen to the 

 east of 01 Doinyo Sapuk and towards the Thika and Tana rivers, and also south 

 of Embo, places in which the Masai have ceased to wander for many years. 



As to their mode of living, their stock supplies nearly all their wants save 

 the brass and iron wire used for ornaments, the iron for their spears, and the 

 tobacco-snuff they are addicted to. Their food is the blood and milk of their 

 cattle and occasionally meat. As the first two items alone form the usual daily 

 diet, there are seldom any arrangements for cooking, in the dark, low-roofed huts. 

 Such fires as they have are merely for warmth at night. Their huts are made of 

 a few gipsy poles, covered with hides and plastered both outside and in with cattle- 

 dung. Very snug and warm these are too, of a cold night, for the window is confined 

 to a hole about the size of two fingers' width, and there is but one outer door, 

 which serves for many compartments. The darkness inside is absolute even on the 

 brightest day, and were it not so, the dense smoke would blind the unaccustomed 

 visitor. 



When changing their grazing-grounds the loads are carried by the women 

 and donkeys. 



The warriors fight with spear, sword, and shield only, but the old men and 

 boys carry bows and arrows. In times of cattle disease or drought they are some- 

 times driven by hunger to join the ranks of the Ogieg, a hunting tribe. 



However, these Ogieg, or Wandorobo as they are generally called, from the 

 Swahili corruption of their Masai name Torobo, usually hunt in the forests, so 

 this does not affect the game of the plains. I am told that a Masai will become 

 an Ogieg, but an Ogieg never a Masai. The two tribes do not marry except 

 as between Ogieg and naturalised Masai. There is a tradition, however, that 

 these hunters originally sprang from the Masai. Whether or not this is true 

 it would be difficult to say, but they certainly spring from the same source 

 as the Masai, their language being non-Bantu, and bearing many points of 

 resemblance, but of these hunting people more later. 



