VIII 



THE MASAI. THE SHEPHERD-WARRIORS OF WA.SAILAND. 



The Masai inhabit tlie inland districts of British and 

 German East Africa from the e(|uator to G° S.L. In 

 spite of much research notlung is Icnown of tlie origin 

 of this race of Jiien : they not only differ widely in 

 IaiiP"uao;e, customs, and organisation from the surround- 

 ing tribes, but tliey are themselves divided into two 

 sections : of these one is pastoral and nomadic, and the 

 other (L-()ikop) agricultural. Both sections avoid the 

 sea-coast and though lakes, like Naivasha and Nakuru, 

 are found in the districts in which they live, they never 

 use a boat or catch a fish. 



The males of the tribe are divided into boys, warriors, 

 and elders. The stage of boyhood continues till the 

 age of thirteen or seventeen ; then the boys, with much 

 ceremony and mystery, are submitted in batches to 

 circumcision. This operation among the Masai is a 

 complicated procedure and occurs once in five years. 

 Previous to circimicision a boy helps to herd the cattle 

 but after this event lie becomes a warrior or Elmuran 

 (often erroneously spelt El Moran) ; he then plaits his 

 hair, adorns himself with certain ear ornaments, and 

 goes naked with t])e exception of- a small skin which he 

 wears over the shoulders for warmth, not for decency. 

 His outfit as a warrior consists of a spear, shield, bow 

 and arrows, a club and a sword. The shields are made 

 of hide, but tliey arc not all of one pattern : each ao-e 

 and sul)-district has its own design. This is also, true 

 of the spears and arrows. The Masai rely for their 



