314 



TO KENIA 



at this critical juncture. Before taking our weapons we 

 warned our visitors of our intentions, and, though they retired 

 quietly from the camp, they lingered about outside looking on 

 unmoved at our preparations. They did not dream of going 

 to the help of their own friends, but waited till our column was 

 formed for attack, and as soon as ever we laid down our arms 

 again they were back amongst us and the camp was as lively 

 as ever. 



The ceremony of making blood-brotherhood was gone 

 through after this almost every day J as we had to make a 

 treaty with every Samaki through whose territory we passed. 

 The following was the order of proceedings : — A number of 

 Wakikuyu and of our men squatted in a circle as witnesses, 

 whilst in the centre sat the Samaki and Qualla, the latter acting 

 as our representative. The sheep, which was provided by the 

 natives, though we had to pay for it, was killed beforehand, so 

 that the liver and part of the shoulder could be. roasted during 

 the ceremony. When all was ready the eloquent Kijanja took 

 up his parable ; a crossed gun and spear were held over the heads 

 of the two parties to the bond ; Kijanja drew his knife and 

 whetted it on the barrel of the gun, whilst he made a long and 

 generally senseless speech. The whetting of the knife really 

 had nothing to do with the matter in hand, but the sly fellow 

 wanted to sharpen it so as to have it ready to cut a good slice 

 of meat when the sheep was divided later. Then followed the 

 regular speeches accompanied by the triple repetition of 

 the words Orioi ?numa, the second, signifying blood-brother, 

 being shouted by all in chorus. On our part Kijanja said, 

 making it up as he went along, of course, something to the 

 following effect : ' And I tell you, 1 you Wakikuyu, that we 

 are come in peace. We will give you beads, stuffs, wire, and 



1 In all dealings, even the simplest, the Wakikuyu begin with these words, so 

 that one hears their aterere, or ' I tell you,' at every turn. 



