TIMIDITY OF THE WAKIKUYU 



289 



hurried off with his men, shouting for guns. The warriors 

 responded with their war-cry, and though not a blow had been 

 struck or a sliot fired, there was a regular stampede. 



Count Teleki at once sent Jumbe Kimemeta to the natives 

 to try and make peace, and the Masai promised not to molest 

 us ; but we had begun the quarrel, so they would have no 

 further dealings with us, and we should have no more cattle, 

 unless we were prepared to pay another hongo as an earnest 

 of our goodwill. To this the Count consented, as he was most 

 anxious to maintain a good understanding and to buy more 

 cattle. 



During the afternoon of the same day two small thefts and 

 one fraud were practised on us. Kijanja, a negro from Tanga 

 and guide of Jumbe Kimemeta's caravan, was negotiating outside 

 the camp for the purchase of a bullock, and after he had paid 

 the price the owner of the animal let go the chain, at which, 

 of course, the bullock at once made tracks for home, whilst the 

 moruo laughed in his sleeve at Kijanja's discomfiture. The 

 natives, moreover, now avoided us as much as possible, and 

 most of our visitors were old women, few men and no girls or 

 children venturing into camp. 



We had, however, no need to be anxious about provisions. 

 Even large caravans such as ours could easily, in normal 

 seasons, buy food for several months of the Wakikuyu in a 

 very short time. There are no markets exactly like those in 

 other parts of Africa, as the Wakikuyu do not venture out of 

 the forests from fear of the Masai, and caravans have to seek 

 them. A well-armed contingent of a travelling party goes into 

 the wood and calls the attention of the natives by firing two or 

 three shots. In a few minutes the signal is answered by the 

 appearance of some envoys ; a time and spot are fixed on for 

 the holding of a market, and in due course the traders make 

 their way to the rendezvous, soon to be joined by hundreds of 

 VOL. I. u 



