HUNTING IN THE RIFT VALLEY 13 
rely on a mistaken confidence that mere altitude in the 
crag-faces lent security against a rifle-ball. It was, 
nevertheless, difficult enough to distinguish precisely 
their small grey forms, 300 ft, above, from the broken 
rocks that surrounded them. 
Next morning, while watching a group of reedbucks 
on the crags, in hopes of securing an opportunity to 
stalk, suddenly three impala (one good buck) appeared 
on the hill above. Then, to our disgust, six Masai 
walked right across our front, taking not the slightest 
notice till we hailed them with a request that they 
would be good enough to go somewhere else. Each of 
these savages carried the usual double-edged spear and 
customary ornaments (such as quarter-pound ’baccy 
tins) stuck in their ears, being otherwise stark naked. 
Later on we discovered that these were the advance- 
guard of a migrating tribe, a body of which had spent 
the night in one of the huge volcanic chasms, where they 
might have enjoyed warm baths free. It is doubtful, 
however, whether nomad Masai appreciate such luxuries. 
This intrusion was most unwelcome when we needed 
a whole country to ourselves. Nairobi, moreover, when 
we left it a week before (July 1904) had been seething 
with rumours of native unrest, Masai risings, and the 
like. These, we knew, were quite unfounded, resting on 
a reported decision of the authorities to move the 
aborigines back from the railway so as to make room 
for settlers. Then, as it were lending grounds for such 
fears, a detachment of 400 “ Yaos ” (King’s African 
Rifles), arriving in three train-loads—the troopship 
Clive from Berbera had entered Mombasa with us— 
created quite a small panic. But these good black 
troops were, after all, only returning from chasing the 
Mad Mullah! Those who select savage lands for a 
home should not give way to fears of “ excursions and 
alarms.” 
The removal of the Masai into the Laikipia 
“ Reserve” was eventually carried out without the 
slightest disturbance of the peace. 
