74 



THE WAMASAL 



ing his ribs. Life is valueless among them; 

 arms are preferred to clothes, and they fear 

 only the gun because it pierces their shields. 

 They are frequented when in peaceful mood by 

 traders from Mombasah, Wasin, Mtanga, and 

 Panga-ni : this year, however, even those who 

 went up from the Southern ports feared to pass 

 the frontier. Such visits, however, are always 

 dangerous. ' If a number of persons are killed 

 by a certain tribe, and there happen to be parties 

 belong to that tribe staying amongst the race 

 which has suffered loss, the visitors are immedi- 

 ately put to death,' says Mr Wakefield. Cattle 

 is the main end and aim of their forays, all herds 

 being theirs by the gift of the Rain-god and by 

 right of strength; in fact, no other nation should 

 dare to claim possession of a cow. They do not 

 attack by night, like other Africans : they disdain 

 the name of robbers, and they delay near the 

 plundered places, dancing, singing, and gorging 

 beef to offer the enemy his revenge. Until this 

 year they have shunned meeting Moslems and 

 musketeers in the field : having won the day, they 

 will, it is feared, repeat the experiment. 



