272 



THJROUGH TURKANA AND SUK 



neck, and some twists of coj^per wire worn as bracelets. Their 

 weapons are spears of an inferior quality, bows and arrows, 

 shields of buffalo-hide, and round knives worn in Turkana 

 fashion round the wrist. Their wooden arrow-points are 

 merely hardened by fire. 



We found the Suk quiet, friendly people, and were told by 

 traders that it is quite safe for small caravans 

 of forty or fifty men to penetrate into the 

 agricultural districts to buy ivory. When 

 Jumbe Kimemeta visited Suk in 1884, how- 

 ever, the people behaA^ed in a very much 

 less peaceable manner, and the reform in 

 that respect is mainly due to the firmness 

 with which their insolent bearing was met on 

 that occasion. 



Although it is supposed that the nomad 

 Suk living by the Kerio have plenty of 

 ivory, traders have not yet come in con- 

 They do not trust them, and for that reason 

 eagerly watched our bold attempt to open friendly relations 

 with them. We had asked these nomads through the interme- 

 diary of some natives to bring animals for sale to the camp, 

 and on the third day, to our great delight, a few appeared 

 bringing sheep with them. Of course we received them in a 

 most friendly manner, loaded them with presents, and promised 

 them all manner of good and beautiful things. We knew we 

 had made a really favourable impression upon them when 

 they replied, ' Your words are sweet in our ears ; they are as 

 comforting as the rubbing of fresh fat upon the limbs after 

 they have been washed, or as milk when one awakes of a 

 morning to find it ready to fill the empty stomach. We have 

 plenty of oxen, goats, sheep, camels, and ivory. We on our 

 part want your medicines ; we want donkeys, of which we are 



SUK EAR ORNAMENT. 



tact with them, 



