50 
A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
food. I have always thought that it would be a 
matter of common fairness at such times to levy a tax 
on the native-owned cattle to pay for this relief. A 
Kikuyu, though not so certainly as a Masai, would 
generally prefer to die than to part with a head of 
stock. 
The tribe suffers dreadfully from venereal disease, 
and terrible sights are to be seen throughout their 
territory. It is sad to reflect that before the coming of 
civilisation they were absolutely clean of this scourge. 
They owe its ravages entirely to the Indians, by whom 
it was introduced. 
After death, except in the case of the upper ten, 
the disposal of the bodies is left entirely to the 
hyaenas; in my opinion rather a nasty form of 
funeral. 
The Kikuyu arts and crafts consist of a little rough 
pottery and iron work. 
I notice that when an ethnologist describes a tribe 
with which he has made himself personally acqainted, 
he is apt to follow Mr. Jorrocks’ advice with regard to 
horses and be “ to their faults a little blind and to 
their virtues ever kind.” He will generally have you 
believe that a native’s faults are all on the surface, 
and when after much search you get to know him he, 
the native, is one solid mass of virtues. Thus Mr. 
Routledge, who has written the standard work on 
this tribe, and a most excellent book it is, has dis¬ 
covered that really the Kikuyu is practically without 
fault. I think most employers of labour will agree 
with me that the skill with which these merits are 
concealed is worthy of a better cause. To speak 
candidly, they are a most unattractive race, and with 
the exception of their fecundity and a certain amount 
