248 THROUGH MAS AIL AND TO THE BORDERS OF KIKUYD 



no fence. 1 Cattle-stealing is the chief occupation of the 

 warriors, and their raids often take them long distances from 

 their own land. A frequent distraction to the monotony of 

 their lives is to throw trading caravans into a state of terror 

 with a view to making the leaders more ready to part with 

 their goods. 



Order is maintained in the kraal by the Lygonani, an old 

 married man chosen by election, who is the leader in battle, 

 the spokesman in council and in discussions about tribute. If 

 a number of kraals combine to make a raid, the leadership is 

 confided to a Lygonani chosen in the same way. 2 The Lygonani 

 of Sigirari is a kind of headman of the whole of Masailand. 

 There are also district Leibons or medicine-men, and one head 

 Masai medicine-man, whose name is Mbatian, and who is held 

 in the very highest esteem, his skill having made him the 

 richest man in the country. He lives on the lS T gare naerobi, 

 on the north-west slope of Kilimanjaro, and, according to W. 

 Astor Chanler, he is very old and half blind, having a great 

 dread of Europeans, not one of whom has yet succeeded in 

 seeing him. 



Married men or moruu take no part in raids. The prepara- 

 tions of the warriors for such expeditions generally last for a 

 long time, and consist in gorging themselves with flesh and 

 blood, and in sending an envoy to Mbatian to ask for advice 

 and war medicine. This preparation time is called ndorossi, 

 and its length depends on the importance of the raid ; it some- 

 times lasts several months, and is spent in the retirement of the 

 woods, no intercourse with the outside world being allowed. 

 The idea is that the flesh and blood of the oxen consumed will 

 imbue the moran with strength and courage. 



1 Thomson tells us this is to train the young warriors in watchfulness and 

 c ourage. — Trans. 



2 Thomson says the warrior elected by a number of kraals is called the Lytunu, 

 to distinguish him from the Lygonani, who is the leader of one kraal only. — Trans. 



