404 
THE KILIMA NJARO EXPEDITION. 
They fall naturally into two groups—the Masai and 
the Bantu. 
Until I had safely reached Kilima-njaro with all 
my goods, I was not at all anxious to encounter any 
of the former race, great as was the interest I felt in 
their strange customs and the structure of their 
euphonious language. Nevertheless, when Mandara 
sent to me one day the message that a party of Masai 
had come to visit him and trade, and that I might run 
over and interview them, I hastened to do so; and, 
tucking my note-hook under my arm, I made off to 
Mosi, where the good-natured chieftain, who was a 
fluent speaker in Masai, served as my interpreter, and 
wrung from his solemn, stately guests some of the 
information which I here impart. At that time Thom¬ 
son had only just returned to Zanzibar from his 
wonderful journey through Masai-land, and the result 
of his observations had not been given to the world: 
so that the Masai were to me nearly a new subject, 
and I was eager for enlightenment as to their idiosyn¬ 
crasies. To many of my readers who have perused 
Mr. Thomson’s interesting work, much of what I here 
write may seem a twice-told tale, but as a matter 
of fact it is rather the filling in the details of the 
picture Mr. Thomson has so vividly and faithfully 
drawn. 
The Masai of whom I write belong mainly to the 
clans of Kisongo, 5 Sigirari, and Laitokitok. I have 
come in contact with them both on the march 
and when I have been living at Taveita or Mosh, 
whither their women and elders would come to pur¬ 
chase honey and vegetables. I have also traded with 
5 The people of thjs district are considered by Thomson to be the 
finest examples of their race. 
