130 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CH. xi 



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 flesh when the shaft is withdrawn, and if the poison 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 clipped in the black, 

 pitchy-looking essence which remains. I am glad to 

 say, however, that owing to the establishment of 

 several Mission Stations amongst them, the \Va 

 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. 



