TRAVELLING UNDER DIFFICULTIES 



the birds. After I had waited in vain for a few hours, 

 I saw a number of Masai, who, to judge from their 

 make-up, were on the war-path, approach my hiding- 

 place on tiptoes. One of them made ready to explore 

 the strange structure with his pointed spear, when 

 suddenly they all took to their heels. My men in the 

 camp had seen them and were running to my aid, thus 

 driving the warriors away. All our efforts to find them 

 were fruitless. 



The Masai are not only very clever cattle thieves, 

 they are also the best cattle drivers I ever saw or heard 

 of. I once tried to follow up a number of Masai whom 

 I saw driving a herd of cattle from Useguha in the di- 

 rection of the Sogoni Mountains. They were about a 

 mile away from us across a small valley. We crossed 

 it to get nearer to them, but when we emerged on the 

 other side the cattle thieves had vanished. But, aside 

 from their thievish propensity, even the Masai are not, 

 as a rule, hostile when justly and fairly treated. I am 

 almost sure that if matters come to a bloody issue be- 

 tween travellers and natives that the first are largely 

 to blame. The least expensive way of travelling is to 

 act according to the principle — war supports war. No 

 doubt many expeditions in the good old time were 

 "self-supporting" enterprises. The easiest thing in the 

 world is to pick up a fight if you wish it, and to have 

 the semblance of right on your side. An arrow flies 

 your way. No doubt it is poisoned, and is sent by 



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