70 



THE COAST RANGE, 



the castor plant, the feathery manioc, and the 

 broad-leaved papaw and plantain flourish upon its 

 flanks. In the patches of black forest spared by 

 the wild woodman, the copal, they say, and the 

 Mvule, a majestic timber-tree whose huge trunk 

 serves for planking and d'oors at Zanzibar, still 

 linger. I saw none of the cinnamon plants men- 

 tioned by Dr Krapf. A little gnm-animi or 

 copal is here dug; but the inveterate indolence of 

 the natives, their rude equality, in which, as 

 amongst Bushmen, no one commands, and their 

 inordinate love for Tembo, or palm-wine, are 

 effectual obstacles to its exploitation. When we 

 visited these, hills drought and its consequence, 

 famine, had compelled the people to sell their 

 children : contented with this exertion, they did 

 no more. 



We left Kisulodi-ni on January 22, 1857. 

 Some nights afterwards fires were observed upon 

 the neighbouring hills, and the Wanyika scouts 

 returned with a report that the Wamasai were in 

 rapid advance. The wise few fled at once to the 

 Kaya, or hidden barricaded stronghold, which 

 these people prepare for extreme danger. The 

 foolish many said, ' To-morrow we will drive our 

 flocks and herds to safety.' But ere that morn- 

 ing dawned upon the world, a dense mass of wild 



