226 THROUGH MAS AIL AND TO THE BORDERS OF KIKUYU 



his arrival in their land with dance and song. Twice some of 

 the warriors had actually spent the night in his camp. 



Kimemeta was very kindly received by the people living by 

 Lake Nyiri ; they had at once killed an ox in his honour, and 

 declared themselves ready to sell us donkeys and cattle if we 

 would camp near them with our caravan. 



The camping-place we now took possession of had been 

 tenanted for weeks or months before by another caravan, and 

 there was still a thorn hedge in good preservation protecting 

 it. The very dangerous companions one may find in deserted 

 camps, if they are not thoroughly cleansed to begin with, was 

 proved by the fact that one of our men found to his horror a 

 puff-adder — the largest and most poisonous snake of Africa — 

 under the oxhide he had slept on ! 



Count Teleki decided to make one more march, with part 

 of the caravan only this time, to Lake Nyiri, and fixed 

 August 1 for the start. As he was now really going into the 

 heart of the ill-famed Masailand, it was decided by the traders 

 to hold what is called a sadaha on his behalf, that is to say, 

 a religious ceremony to invoke the aid of God. A suitable 

 spot was selected outside the camp, and the two biggest 

 cooking-pots we had, filled with beans, were soon simmering 

 over a big fire. Near by a black ox with legs bound struggled 

 upon the ground, awaiting his executioner. At this primitive 

 altar knelt the traders and their men, with faces turned north- 

 eastward towards the grave of the Prophet, and prayed for 

 the Count's happy return. Jumbe Kimemeta led the devotions, 

 the Koran in his hand, whilst Muyuji Hamis swung the incense, 

 which rose heavenward in clouds. It was, indeed, a touching 

 sight to see these wild children of Africa on their knees in 

 prayer. The proceedings were not over when a group of fifty 

 or sixty Masai came up, and no notice being taken of their 

 approach by the worshippers, they squatted down in two 



