206 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA CHAP. 



vessel taints the milk through and through. The 

 flavour is most unpleasant to a European, but the 

 native loves it and would think nothing of milk 

 without it. It is an acquired taste and one which 

 grows even on white people, for some old stagers in 

 the country, who live in the wilds, say that the milk 

 is improved by this smoky flavour. 



We had great difficulty in persuading these 

 people at Turah to milk the cows direct into our 

 own vessels, as they are very superstitious and 

 feared that it might bring some evil on their cattle. 

 However, a judicious present of some cloth and wire, 

 together with Abbudi's persuasive tongue, after 

 a time overcame all difficulties and we succeeded in 

 getting the pure milk without the unpleasant smoky 

 taste. We always tried the same means afterwards 

 when we met any of the Samburu or Rendile, and 

 were usually successful in overcoming their scruples. 



Our camp at Turah was beautifully cool, as it 

 stood at a height of 5,400 feet above sea level. In 

 the evening, as I was sitting in my camp chair 

 admiring the beautiful view, I was stealthily ap- 

 proached by a well-made but extremely dark- 

 skinned youth. I did not altogether like the look 

 of his face, which had a rather treacherous and 

 cunning expression. On being asked what he 

 wanted he explained in a very low voice, but in 

 good Swahili, that he was most anxious to come 



