286 
IN AFRICA 
knives, and some of them had painted their bodies 
with red dirt and mutton grease, and when this 
coating had partly dried they had traced with their 
fingers many designs in stripes down their arms 
and legs. Some were a light mauve in color, hut 
most were of a rich chocolate brown. The effect of 
these designs was rather pretty, but the dripping 
red oil from their hair was not pretty and on a hot 
day exuded a strong, overpowering odor. 
Above us, nearly a thousand feet from where we 
stood, boldly visible in the face of the great cliff, 
was the broad ledge and black opening of the cave. 
A short distance to the right of it was a bright 
waterfall, looking like a ribbon, but in reality quite 
broad and dropping in three stages several hundred 
feet. An incline of forty-five degrees led up to the 
cave, while up beyond that was the great stratum of 
solid rock that extends for miles along the south 
of Mount Elgon and which is honey-combed with 
hundreds of prehistoric cave-dwellings. A deter¬ 
mined foe stationed at the mouth of any one of the 
caves could defend it against an enormous attack¬ 
ing force. 
It was nearly an hour’s climb to the ledge where 
the cave entrance appeared. Several naked men 
armed with spears stood upon the rocks, outlined 
in bold and striking relief against the velvety black¬ 
ness of the cave entrance. They appeared curious 
but not unfriendly as we breathlessly panted our 
way on to the ledge where they stood waiting, spears 
in hand. 
