xxix THROUGH THE MERU COUNTRY 359 



down into the turbulent stream. I thought his back 

 must be broken and gave him up for lost, as I saw 

 him borne swiftly away towards the rapids lower 

 down. Here, however, Jerogi the syce redeemed 

 his reputation, for without any hesitation he dived 

 in, seized the reins, and swam with the pony safely 

 to shore. Strange to say, the animal was quite un- 

 harmed by the accident. 



As soon as we crossed the ravine, the people fled 

 from our path, and at a safe distance lined the tops of 

 their village stockades to watch us while we passed. 

 As they sat thus clustered together in black rows, 

 they looked for all the world like vultures. Soon 

 we came to a solitary hut, and from it heard the 

 unmistakable cackle of a hen a sound we had not 

 heard for months, for the Masai, Samburu, and 

 Rendile consider it incompatible with their dignity 

 to have hens in their manyattas . Thinking that we 

 might be able to buy a few eggs, I sent a man who 

 could talk the local language, to make a purchase 

 with some beads. The owner of the hut was 

 completely taken by surprise and was so terrified 

 at the sight of a stranger that, snatching up his 

 spear, he fled for his life, leaving everything behind 

 him, including a wife and new-born baby ! 



We halted for breakfast close to this hut, as there 

 was a little clearing there, and we could not be 

 surprised by a rush of the savages if they had any 



