320 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



dile, although according to our Somah somewhat simi- 

 lar to theirs, was in so many ways perfectly distinct 

 from it, that we concluded the simiilarities had been 

 the result more of intercommunication between these 

 peoples in former years than of derivation of the Ren- 

 dile tongue from the Somali. They also used many 

 Galla phrases, and the fact that on several occasions 

 we had heard the chiefs address their followers as 

 Oromo, led us to believe that they were in some way 

 connected with the Galla tribe. But the insistence 

 with which all the Rendile with whom we talked repu- 

 diated the suggestion, forced us to give up that 

 theory. 



It was easy to explain their familiarity with the 

 Masai tongue, as that was the language of the Sam- 

 buru, or Berkenedji, for centuries closely connected with 

 the Rendile, to whom many of them for years had 

 been in a state of servitude, while many of their 

 females had borne children to the Rendile. They 

 used the word " Ngai " to express the idea of the 

 Deity alone. This is a Masai word, used by the Masai 

 not only to express the idea of the Deity, but also as 

 an exclamation of surprise and wonder. A watch, a 

 successful shot made with a rifle, an ornament of 

 great beauty, or anything which excited their admira- 

 tion, called forth this exclamation. The Rendile had 

 some idea of a deity, a much clearer one, as far as 

 we could learn, than that possessed by the Masai, or 

 any other East African race that had not come into 

 contact with Christians and Mohammedans. 



The weapons of this people, and their implements, 

 as well as their method of life, were in every respect 



