822 MASAI, TUEKANA, SUK, NANDI, ETC. 



tribe, which was of Central African origin, may have been at some 

 period of its migration in contact with the .Afasai, and have copied some 

 of the customs of that race, from which it differs absolutely in language. 



The political restraint of British and (xprnian authority has practically 

 put an end to the raids of the Masai on the Bantu and Nandi negroes, 

 and has almost extinguished ci\'il war amongst the Masai tribes; therefore, 

 unless they go to war as the auxiliavies of the Europeans (and of late 

 they have been more useful to the Uganda Administration as irregular 

 trooiis), the modern Masai have little chance of fighting. In former days, 

 before the Ma<ai warriors, called •' El Morran," ■' started on an expedition, 

 they would fortify their courage with a war medicine, which was said to 

 be the bark of Acacia, verragosa. This bark, when chewed, would make 

 them either frantic or stupefied, thus lulling any apprehensions. Once on 

 the war-path, however, tliey were invariably brave, as public opinion 

 would probably visit any sign of cowardice with execution. The Masai 

 warriors would travel as much as fifty miles a day at a constant trot. In 

 old days they thought nothing of going 300 miles — even 500 miles — to 

 attack a people or a district which was supposed to be rich in cattle. They 

 would sometimes travel at night as well as in the daytime, but their 

 favourite time of attack was just at dawn. In the fir^t ardour of battle 

 they would slay every man and boy with their huge spears, but women 

 were very rarely killed. It is stated that the Ma^ai have generally been 

 in the habit of warning their enemies before making an attack on them, 

 but I certainly remember myself in 1884 having reported to me a great 

 many instances of the Masai round Kilimanjaro taking or attempting to 

 take Bantu villages wholly by surprise. No doubt in the case of tributary 

 people a warning would be sent first that the overdue tribute must he 

 paid up, and in the event of this notice remaining unheeded the warriors 

 would descend on the rebellious vassah 



The condition of luomen among the Masai offers another curious 

 analogy to the Zulus. It is a condition which is not by any means- 

 peculiar to the ]Masai, as was thought by earlier travellers, but is frequently 

 met with in other negro races showing no near kinship to this people. 

 The Masai warrior is not allowed by the elders of his tribe to marry until 

 he has reached about thirty years of age, and has accumulated a fair 

 amount of property, or else has so distinguished himself by his bravery as 

 to merit an early retirement. But from the time of his reaching puberty 

 till the date at which he is able to marry he is by no means willing to 

 live without the solace of female companionship. The young warrior, 

 soon after attaining manhood (when the hair of his head, from having 

 been previously close shaven, is now allowed to grow until it can be 

 * In the singular "01 Morani." 



