WE SUSPECT A TRAP 



147 



Presently Mhoke found that one of our porters had a schuka of 

 white stuff, and offered it to the warrior, who, however, scorn- 

 fully declined it. We now thought it time to interfere. Count 

 Teleki asked, in commanding tones, if the schuka was or was 

 not enough, at the same time significantly tapping his loaded 

 weapon. This sufficed ; way was made for us, and we passed on. 



Another three-quarters of an hour's march brought us to a 

 meadow where the natives said we could camp near an over- 

 grown ravine some 100 to 130 feet deep, forming the bed of the 

 mountain-torrent Magsuru, the rushing noise of which reached 

 us. As far as we could tell, the district about us was almost 

 entirely covered with banana-plantations, amongst which we 

 could make out from twenty to thirty isolated huts, looking 

 very picturesque nestling against the slopes. It was a charming 

 spot, but it would not do to be too much delighted with it till 

 we knew the meaning of what was going on not very far off. ■ 



Our attention was soon called to the fact that armed men 

 were collecting in numbers, and that there were no women or 

 children to be seen. Soon an eager shauri of warriors was 

 being held quite close to us. What could they be plotting 

 now ? Caution was evidently advisable, so we only pretended 

 to go on with our camping. Our tent was ]3ut up, but the 

 bales were not unloaded, the wdiispered order went round to 

 have the weapons ready, and we waited further events in 

 watchful suspense. 



Fresh warriors kept arriving in haste from every side, till 

 there were some 250, each with shield and spear and club, few, 

 however, with guns, assembled close to us. We began to think, 

 especially when we saw the Meru chief addressing the men 

 again and again, that we had fallen into a trap. Our position 

 was serious enough. On one side a deep ravine, on the other 

 250 armed men, their spears and shields, painted white, red, 

 and black in Masai fashion, gleaming in the light of the sun. 



