A WA-KAHE WAR PARTY. 
179 
still clung to me, and I failed to fall in with a single 
head. H-- was more fortunate, and secured three 
hartebeest, which kept the wolf from our door for 
another day. The surrounding soil was distinguished 
by frequent patches of what appeared to be a rather 
poor apology for salt, but so highly prized by the 
Wa-kahe that it is a casus belli in the event of any 
strangers attempting to collect it. 
The women are uglier than their Taveta rivals, and 
the ugliest are those who adorn their faces with a 
poudre de ris, manufactured from grease and flour, 
which is applied in streaks, and gives them somewhat 
the appearance of clowns. We sent our compliments 
to the Kahe elders, in the form of a gun and a piece 
of cloth, though there was no question of Kongo , as they 
and Martin were blood-brothers. 
The following day we traversed the forest, which is 
several miles in length, and, like Taveta, has a great 
centre clearing occupied by crops of corn and other 
grain, beans, tobacco, &c. At one place we came upon 
a big council of war held by several hundred Kahe 
warriors about to attack Mandara, who had been steal¬ 
ing their honey-boxes, of which they have a great 
quantity suspended from the trees on the outskirts 
of the forest. They regarded us with a calm indiffer¬ 
ence, which was very convenient, and we quite forgave 
the want of politeness in allowing us to pass without 
any sign of greeting. Mandara is their deadly enemy, 
and had recently caught twelve of their men and 
treated them in a most barbarous manner. 
