The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
FENCES AROUND TEE NASAL.

Kilimanjaro and Victoria Nyanza was ex-
plored. The Nasal nomads, herdeU and
warriors. permitted no intrusion on their
wide plains. Native traders dared not
cross the Nasal country, and no explorer
would be reckless enough to enter 1t.
No news Of tho past year has been more
significant Of the stupendous changes CO.
curing in Africa than the cablegram the
other day announcing that all the Masai,
the most famous Of tropical African peo-
pies, will soon DO living on reservations ike
the Indian wards Of our country. The
chiefs and their people have given their
consent. They have signed . treaty with
the British in which are defined tho bounds
ries Of two large reservations, ono In the
northern and the other In tho southern part
Of Masailsnd. They have agreed to 70
move to these reserves with their cattle,
to be governed by two British admins
traitors who, with their constabulary, arc
TO preserve order and keep out intruders.
The British Government has agreed to
maintain schools. give instruction In agri-
culture and supply farming Implements.
This IL the first time that tho reservation
system has been introduced In tropical
Africa. Something like It has been estab-
lishld in Basutoland, South Africa, where
most Of the natives are nominally Chris
tians and only q few white men. chiefly
missionaries and teachers. are permitted
to reside. By combining the Nasal to reser-
vations vast AREA Of grassy plains, where
millions Of cattle may thrive, and some
small districts OF agricultural highland,
fit for European settlement, will be opened
In nritieh entarprise.
No one would have dreamed twenty
years ago that this was to be the future
Of the proud and formidable Nasal. They
are not negroes, and for centuries they have
kept their race practically pure. They are
Of Semitic origin, and ages ago they prob
ably fought their way from Arabia or some
neighboring part OF Asia through the
African tribes to their present habitat.
They are stalwart and handsome physi-
cally. with long and narrow faces, superb
carriage and naughty bearing, the result.
perhaps, Of their invariable success in war
with the tribes bordering their land. Lead
ing the life OF herdsmen ard warriors.
they have excelled in both pursuits. They
have looked upon freedom as the greatest
blessing and have never owned a slave.
Two Nasal were recently in the employ
Of the German zoologist Schillings, and when
they went with him to the coast to re-
ceive their pay in rupees for fifteen months
service, they used the money to buy the
freedom OF Q middle-aged woman living
near Mombasa, q member Of their own
clan Of tho Nasal. 'No Nasal they said,
Should ever be slave
One Of the most brilliant achievements
Of African explorers was the crossing OF
Masailand by Joseph Thomson IN 1884
He was the first to describe those bound
less plains teeming with game and cattle.
the Great Rift Valley and the towering hi gh-
lands beyond where white men arc settling.
He won his way by infinite tact and re-
source. He had fireworks, he was skilled
in sleight OF hand, and, most wonderful Of
all, he could take out his teeth and put them
back againl The most remarkable ma
gicians the Nasal ever saw had never done
this. They let him pass because he was
a great wonder worker and good fellow.
But IL was the rife Of the white pioneers
that finally opened their country. Their
spears were no match for the weapon that
could kill q man a mile away. They had
met the first intruders whom they could not
conquer; and close behind the white man
came cattle plague they had never heard
Of before. Rinderpeet wiped out nearly
all Of their herds, their only food resource.
They had never titled the soil, and now
they persisted by tens Of thousands. IL u
believed that about 10o, 900 Of them are still
alive, but they are broken and humbled in
spirit, and are turning to agriculture, for
they will never again place their solo de-
pendence upon cattle.
They are born children Of the steppe;
and there they will remain. Schillings
tells Of Nasal who walked ono day up to
a nest Of bees, thrust his naked arm into
1t and brought out piece after piece of
yellow honeycomb, which he distributed
among the white mans carriers.
why did the bees not sting your The
astonished porters asked.
'Your work is to carry loads he an
swered. But my homo L. the steppe,
and it Is mine to enjoy all find IN 1t. The
bees sting you, but they love me-
Many men, including some Of the lead
ing German travellers, have made careful
study of the Nasal in the past few yean,
and few Of the tribes Of Africa have 20
many friends to-day among the writer's on
that continent as this interesting people,
who were so dreaded only few years ago
that their country remained unknown
long after every other route to the great
central lakes had been explored. The
most authoritative work on them is sDia
Nasal" written by Mr.. Merkes and pub
lished in Germany last year. After losing
nearly all that was Of value to them as
property, they have finally relinquished,
apparently without much regret, the greater
part Of the land where they were once SUI
preme. But in spite Of the shortcomings
which they have in common with other
barbarous peoples, they have tho good
opinion and friendship Of those who know
them best.
III were net myself wrote an oflicial
in German East Africa, early this year,
Il should like to be Nasal Of the olden
time before their Affections OF recent years.
It Is hoped that the Nasal may prosper
under the new conditions and justify. the
expectation that they win attain . con-
siderable degree Of development In the
new role Of farmers attached to tho soil
they till.
The Spread Of Runner.
From ths 81. Adams Daav Assssnes,.