WILD LIFE ACROSS THE WORLD 



insects. Each one works on its own account and on 

 its own house, fetching mud, and moulding it with 

 its legs and mandibles in a way that is Httle short of 

 marvellous. 



Friday, July 2nd. — Last night we had rather an 

 unpleasant scene in camp. Our boy and the Masai 

 quarrelled over a game of cards. They had been 

 gambling, a thing it is impossible to prevent them 

 doing. They referred the dispute to me, and I had 

 to sit in judgment. The matter is too complex to 

 describe here, but the talk and excitement were 

 terrific, and it was only with the utmost difficulty and 

 by using a certain number of threats that I could get 

 at the root of the trouble. The Masai was perfectly 

 cool, talking quietly, politely, and to the point ; 

 Mahomed, our boy, on the contrary, was wildly 

 excited, in fact nearly hysterical, jabbered at a fearful 

 rate, and wandered from the point at issue. When, 

 finally, I gave my decision, which was a little against 

 him, he promptly accused me of favouritism and a 

 desire to see him lose his money. 



When he recovered from his temper I promised to 

 hear " the case " again in the morning, and hold 

 another " shami," as they call it. However, when the 

 morning arrived I was delighted and relieved to find 

 that, in the interval, Mahomed had become duly 

 penitent for his rudeness, and that he and the Masai 

 had settled the difference between themselves. One 



88 



