286 IN AFRICA 



knives, and some of them had painted their bodies 

 with red dirt and mutton grease, and when this 

 coating had partly dried they had traced with their 

 fingers many designs in stripes down their arms 

 and legs. Some were a light mauve in color, but 

 most were of a rich chocolate brown. The effect of 

 these designs was rather pretty, but the dripping 

 red oil from their hair was not pretty and on a hot 

 day exuded a strong, overpowering odor. 



Above us, nearly a thousand feet from where we 

 stood, boldly visible in the face of the great cliff, 

 was the broad ledge and black opening of the cave. 

 A short distance to the right of it was a bright 

 waterfall, looking like a ribbon, but in reality quite 

 broad and dropping in three stages several hundred 

 feet. An incline of forty-five degrees led up to the 

 cave, while up beyond that was the great stratum of 

 solid rock that extends for miles along the south 

 of Mount Elgon and which is honey-combed with 

 hundreds of prehistoric cave-dwellings. A deter- 

 mined foe stationed at the mouth of any one of the 

 caves could defend it against an enormous attack- 

 ing force. 



It was nearly an hour's climb to the ledge where 

 the cave entrance appeared. Several naked men 

 armed with spears stood upon the rocks, outlined 

 in bold and striking relief against the velvety black- 

 ness of the cave entrance. They appeared curious 

 but not unfriendly as we breathlessly panted our 

 way on to the ledge where they stood waiting, spears 

 in hand. 



