298 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



was a great laibon (medicine-man). They asked eagerly 

 about the countries through which we had passed, and 

 seemed reheved when I told them all was peace. Again 

 and again, they made me repeat that assurance, and tell 

 them that I had seen no signs of the Masai, of whom 

 they seemed in great dread. I told them that I had 

 come to them for the purpose of trade, that in a few 

 days my caravan, laden with all sorts of good things, 

 would reach me, and that I hoped to exchange some 

 of my goods for camels, horses, and donkeys. They 

 said they would willingly trade with me, and asked if 

 I had cloth. 



One circumstance struck them as very peculiar, and 

 that was that we dared to travel in the night. They 

 said they were brave people, and were one and all 

 warriors ; but that they never for a moment dared to 

 venture from their camp after dark. They said I 

 must indeed be a great medicine-man, if willing to 

 venture upon the road at night, and run the risk of 

 being killed by a rhinoceros, or eaten by lions. 



They asked for a present, and I told them they 

 should receive one upon the arrival of my caravan. 

 They said they wished to make me a present, and 

 asked what I wanted. I replied that the European 

 judged of his friends by the size of their gifts, and 

 hoped they would bring me horses, camels, and don- 

 keys. They acquiesced. Then the conversation lan- 

 guished, and the chiefs, apparently overcome by their 

 exertions, yawned in my face several times ; so I bade 

 them farewell, shook hands, and expressed the hope 

 that I should see them on the morrow. 



The following morning Lieutenant von Hohnel 



