170 AMONGST THE EESIIIAT AND TO LAKE STEFANIE 



tent, vigorousl}^ spat upon, then soused with milk brought by 

 natives for the purpose, and was about to be slaughtered 

 when our Somal, who had so far looked on quietly and atten- 

 tively, interfered, thinking that if they did not kill the animal 



they would be left 

 out altogether. Jumbe 

 Kimemeta, who, as a 

 person of importance, 

 was sitting with us 

 at the entrance to 

 the tent, understood 

 the position at once, 

 and explained to the 

 natives, astonished at 

 the interruption in the 

 proceedings, that we 

 never looked upon a 

 league of peace as 

 complete unless we 

 were the slayers of 

 the animal offered up. 

 Shaking his head, the 

 Oromaj drew back 

 and yielded to our wishes ; so the sheep was killed, skinned, 

 and disembowelled by the Somal. 



The interval was employed by the Oromaj to make a speech 

 which interested us all very much, especially Jumbe Kimemeta, 

 who was evidently greatly impressed by the ' wild man's 

 eloquence.' Our guest spoke in the Masai language, and the 

 following was the upshot of what he said : 



' They, the Eeshiat, were a peace-loving people, living in 

 friendship with all the neighbouring tribes. Two rainy seasons 

 ago there had been hostilities with bloodshed between them 



A RESHIAT WOMAN. 



