18 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA CHAP. 



Masai youths, named Abbudi and Mellauw, who 

 had been acting as scouts in the district for some 

 time and therefore knew the way thoroughly. 

 They were both very bright and intelligent, and soon 

 became great favourites of mine. 



Abbudi especially proved himself most useful and 

 amusing. He was full of information about the 

 country, so I always took him with me every- 

 where; he used to stride along by my horse's side, 

 recounting unending, and to me most entertaining, 

 stories about his interesting nation, the Masai. I 

 shall have to mention him constantly when relating 

 what befell us on this trip and on another longer 

 expedition which I subsequently made to the 

 Northern Game Reserve beyond the Guaso Nyiro. 

 Abbudi was a rather good-looking youth and but 

 for his prominent teeth, which are characteristic of 

 the Masai, would have been quite handsome. I 

 gathered a good deal of useful information from 

 him, but found that many of his statements had to 

 be taken with a grain of salt. It is a strange but 

 undoubted fact that no wild native ever seems to 

 be capable of telling the exact truth, for he has a 

 way of suiting his statements to his audience, and 

 saying what he thinks will please and make a good 

 impression. 



Personally I can quite bear out the remarks made 

 by Lieutenant- General von Liebert, formerly gov- 



