356 THE LAND OF THE LION 



of a fat land, counting his flocks by hundreds or thous- 

 ands. These grow enormously, while he does nothing 

 but sit in the sun. His wives keep his hut daubed with 

 cow-dung and when his cattle have browsed down the 

 neighbouring pastures, they pack for him all his belong- 

 ings on their own or the donkeys' backs and move on to 

 pastures new. He strolls ahead, chatting with the other 

 "old men" while a new village arises, and its thorn Boma 

 is put up. Now, how does a yearly tax of three rupees 

 a hut affect this gentleman of means and leisure ? It 

 affects him not at all. His cows are worth one hundred 

 rupees each, and he has several hundreds, sometimes 

 several thousands of them. His bullocks are almost as 

 numerous, and these he values not because he trains them 

 to labour or intends selling them to the settler, for he scoffs 

 at the idea of parting with any but the sick sheep or 

 goats, or barren cows. He values them for their blood, 

 which once in every few weeks he draws from them 

 and drinks. He will sell nothing and he will till the 

 ground nowhere. 



In his case the fixed tax is an absurdity. There are 

 Massai to-day whose herds in the open market would 

 fetch $50,000, and these enormous herds are in splendid 

 condition and are increasing year by year. 



The Massai should be taxed on his herds, every cow 

 should pay a tax, and they should be forced to sell at least 

 some portion of their cattle. Why should the very best 

 grazing land of Africa be given over to nomads who can- 

 not be induced to do anything for their living? 



Why again should not every native in East Africa be 

 told to present himself for Government registration ? 

 Such registration could be arranged at the various tribal 

 posts by the civil authorities. If on presenting himself 

 a native could show a certificate to prove he had worked 

 either for the Government or for a settler, for two or three 



