252 Wa7iderings in Eastern Africa, 
palaver " for the last time. We wished now, to be 
told whether their people were favourable to our recep- 
tion or not. On their side they pressed us to know 
whether we could not assist them against their enemies, 
.the Masai, intimating that if we could so we should be 
most welcome. We explained our characters again. 
It was evident they did not comprehend us, but they 
gave us to understand that they would be pleased to 
see us return, and desired to know when we should 
do so, but upon this point we could not satisfy them. 
We did not even feel at liberty to inform them that 
we should return at all. Our reception by them had 
not been encouraging, and even now we were unable 
to make out their meaning. Their ideas of us were 
evidently very vague, if not erroneous. They gave us 
no invitation to return, and it was only when we asked 
them for their feelings that they expressed their 
willingness to receive us. Even in this they did not 
seem decided and in earnest, but spoke like men 
that did not understand the circumstances they were 
called upon to consider, and did not know how to act. 
The prospect of having more goods brought to them 
was inviting, and it was this that gave to the scale the 
slight turn it took in our favour. 
The last business was to be introduced to Mara 
Barowat, which was done in a very quiet way. There 
was no one with him but his brother Aba Rufat, or 
with us but our interpreter Abajila. We found him 
seated upon the ground, apparently waiting for us. 
There is nothing in his appearance, dress, or ornaments, 
to distinguish him from the common people. He is 
of middle height, but his frame-work is slim, which 
makes him look taller than he is. Even among his 
