i6 



IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA CHAP. 



important, as on the western verge of it Nairobi, 

 the official capital of the country, is situated. The 

 inhabitants are called Wakamba, and are spread 

 more or less over the whole province. Not very 

 many are to be seen, however, about Nairobi, as in 

 their densely populated villages round the Machakos 

 hills, a few marches to the eastward, they contrive 



"NAIROBI, THE OFFICIAL CAPITAL." 



to produce all the necessaries of life, and for more 

 than these they as yet show but little ambition. 



The Wakamba are a numerous agricultural tribe, 



with keen instincts for travel and barter. They 



are good hunters and fighters, their weapons being 



the bow and poisoned arrow, in the use of which 



they are so expert that they have more than 



once inflicted a crushing defeat on their hated 



