AN INSOLENT MASAI 



271 



from the top. At tlie base of tlie mountain I came upon a 

 great herd of zebras. I did not attempt to shoot any of the 

 animals, which showed the most wonderful confidence in us, 

 allowing us to pass within a hundred paces without moving. 

 It took us, some two hours to reach the peak, as the sides of the 

 mountain were very steep. Huge blocks of quartz, some pieces 

 almost transparent, strewed the ground. VVe noticed a great 

 many elands, which are 

 first-rate climbers, and 

 greyish-brown (horn- 

 less ?) antelopes about 

 the size of a roebuck. 

 We had a splendid view 

 from the top, embrac- 

 ing Kilimanjaro and 

 Meru, but a strong, icy- 

 cold wind soon drove 

 us down. 



Just before sunset 

 we had some trouble 

 with a number of 

 insolent Masai from 

 Kapotei, one of whom went so far as to fling his spear across 

 the brook at one of our men. The spear was confiscated, 

 and the moran had also to pay a fine of a cow, which cooled 

 his zeal for aggression a little. 



This sort of thing always made our Somal very wroth, and 

 with very few words and anything but a mirthful expression 

 they would take very prompt measures, such as our porters 

 would have been quite incapable of, to prevent any recurrence 

 of a similar thing. 



We started again on the morning of August 18, having 

 bought eleven oxen and three donkeys. Our march now led 



