130 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO © cu. x1 
in the camps. These attacks were always made by 
night. Like most other native races in East Africa, 
their only arms are the bow and poisoned arrow, 
but in the use of these primitive weapons they are 
specially expert. The arrow-head remains in the 
flesh when the shaft is withdrawn, and if the poison 
is fresh, paralysis and death very quickly follow, the 
skin round the wound turning yellow and mortifying 
within an hour or two. This deadly poison is 
obtained, I believe, by boiling down a particular 
root, the arrow-heads being dipped in the black, 
pitchy-looking essence which remains. Iam glad to 
say, however, that owing to the establishment of 
several Mission Stations amongst them, the Wa 
Kamba are quickly becoming the most civilised 
natives in the country ; and the missionaries have 
adopted the sensible course of teaching the people 
husbandry and the practical arts and crafts of 
everyday life, in addition to caring for their spiritual 
needs. 
