570 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
what they are considered capable of ; and there can be no 
doubt as to the astonishing hardihood of these scouts. 
Stories are continually heard to that effect, thus ren- 
dering the Masai a terror in the land ; and it is a 
fact that they have even reached Bagamoyo, opposite 
Zanzibar. 
The raid was, of course, successful, and our savage 
friends returned in great glee. On reaching their homes, 
however, matters had to be squared up, and the spoil 
divided. So many head of the captured cattle were set 
apart as the portion of the lybon Mbaratien, who had 
directed them so well, and whose medicines had been so 
potent. Then followed a sanguinary scene over the 
apportionment of the remainder. There was no attempt 
at a fair division. The braver men and bullies of the 
party, consulting only their own desires, took possession 
of such cattle as pleased them, and dared the rest to 
come and seize them. The understood rule was that if 
any warrior could hold his own in single combat against 
all comers for three days, the cattle were his. And thus 
began the real fighting of the expedition, revealing 
sickening sights of savage ferocity. There were more 
warriors killed over the division of the spoil than in the 
original capturing of it. To kill a man in this manner 
was considered all fair and above board. Blood feuds were 
unknown, a man not being considered worth avenging 
who could not hold his own life safe. If, however, a 
man was murdered treacherously, the criminal had to 
pay forty-nine bullocks. Our young warrior, as he was 
only as yet winning his spurs, had to be content with 
the honour and glory of the raid, and he had the 
modesty not to pit himself against abler and more fero- 
cious fighters. It must be remembered that the cattle 
thus captured did not remain the property of the 
successful warriors. A warrior can have no property, 
and hence they all became his father’s. 
The spoil being divided, the party were next able to 
do full honour to the men lost in the raid — those being 
considered worthy of all praise “ who rush into the field, 
and foremost fighting fall ; ” while men who die ignobly 
