154 Wanderings in Eastern Africa. 
cause of all the political difficulties that embarrass 
the government in their dealings with other nations. 
In our case, acting upon the principle that prudence 
was the better part of valour," we got out of danger's 
way, so we had not the honour of being captured and 
rescued, of becoming great heroes, and of involving 
our country in the expenditure of some millions. 
Now and then our quiet is disturbed at Ribe by 
reports that the terrible Masai, the great cattle-lifters 
of this part of the world, are coming. If the Wanika 
were richer in herds than they are this danger would be 
vastly greater ; even now, it is quite imminent enough 
to create great concern among them The cry the 
Masai are coming " runs like wild-fire through Unika, 
when all is involved in the greatest consternation. The 
Wanika have not forgotten the raid of the Masai 
upon them in 1858. 
Nothing, however, creates a greater commotion in 
our homestead than an onslaught of black ants. This 
is a feature that ought not to be omitted in describing 
life at Ribe. Almost every traveller in Africa has 
described these formidable folk. They come up, 
down, or athwart the mountain side, and attack the 
settlement in a most ferocious manner. Sometimes 
they come by day, but more often they make their 
assaults by night. These malicious foes, without any 
provocation whatever, gather their swarming hosts to- 
gether, march in close rank and file upon the settlement, 
then dividing their battalions, enter your houses, make 
their way to your cupboards, and, not content with 
the supplies they find there, ascend your bedstead 
and begin energetically with their pincers to pick the 
very flesh from your bones. One night, being occu- 
