The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-29
400 LIVE IN 40
HUTs IN AFRICA
Quaint Nasal VILLAGE IL Located Four
Quaint Nasal Village Is Located Four
Miles From Naivasha, Where
Roosevelt Shot Big Game.
BY WARRINGTON DAWSON.


NAIVASHA. British East Africa,
June 29.-The tiny town OF Naivasha,
which boasts a six-roomed hotel, n
white store, four Indian stores, a post
office. railway station and perhaps
20 houses scattered in groups OF four
or five. with long stretches of stone
studded welt between. was the near
est point of civilization TO Col. Roose-
welt on the last two months of his
hunting expedition TO the north OF
Mombasa.
Naivasha used to be a great cattle
center, because ii was the headquar-
ters OF the Nasal tribe, and when the
British took possession they profited
by this circumstance to make Naiva-
sha the chief point of district But
now business has moved down To
Nairobi and officialdom moved up to
Nakuru, on the lake of the same name,
between here and Lake Victoria Nyan-
"a, and Naivasha has left to IL only its
delightful climate, since its altitude
of 5000 feet makes it tolerable even
at midday. and at night a strong, cool
breeze always springs up
Best OF all Is It's beautiful lake,
1s~ON oAS1 @NoANooha Will LUG NOiIcluO
Longanot to one side and round II
broad plains leading to tall distant
mountains hemming il In on every
side like the rim Of gigantic basin.
(Note-It was on Naivasha lake that
Col. Roosevelt had his exciting battle
with five Infatuated hippopotami. about
the middle OF July-Editor)
The lake is believed to be the crater
OF al old volcano, and scientists say
that once 1t must have reached the
distant mountains which shaped It's
bed, for many rocks now 10 miles
away from the waters OF the lake are
marked by the wear of mighty waters.
Boasts Several Sailing Boats.
Now 1t is very different. and while
Lake Natvasha Is eight miles across,
no soundings have proved 1t to be
more than 80 feet deep, although 1t Is
probable that at different points there
are riffs In the bottom of the old
crater forming it's bed which give IL
considerable lepth. The shores, prin-
cipally on the NaWasha side, are skirt
ed with papyrus swamp and w"'- r
lilies, the water being so shallow and
the vegetation so thick that even
where the shore is more or less free
from papyrus one must made out to a
rowboat which cannot quite come In,
and then go in the rowboat to a sail
boat IL one intends to 60 sailing.
Lake Naivasha boasts two or three
little sailing boats. belonging to set
tiers along its banks, but its principal
source of pride is a steam launch
belonging to retired British naval
officer, Commander Attenborough, who
has created a superb estate on the
southwestern side, just opposite
Naivasha, where Col Roosevelt will
come out from the Sotik, camping on
Attenborough's ground It seems odd
that by retiring from the navy Atten.
borough should have got promotion /;
but whereas in England he was only
commander, here he is called "Ad.
miral of the Lake Fleet"
(Note-Admirai Attenborough show
ed Roosevelt royal good time early
admiraTs own private hippopotami.--
Editor.)
Four miles from Nalvasha is the
great Nasal village, where 400 mem
beS OF that famous warrior tribe
live I'm 40 little mud huts. The huts
are built In q circle round a coral
into which the cattle are brought al
night. There the entrances from with
out At every 10 or IL huts. the rest
presenting TO the outside world @
solid wall OF mud and tree branchh
The huts are eight feet long by Ave
or six feet In breadth, and some -four
or five feet in height. and In there
10 men, women and children will sleeI
quite happily. piled one upon another
| Like American Indians.
! The Nasal are very like American
Indians, scorning all kinds Of worl
and requiring their wives to do Il
all. You will see long professions
of them. the men bearing their spear,
and shields and the women struggling
after with the burdens OF wood OF
blankets or whatever may be needed
on the trek. About the only thinl
which Nasal will deign to carry fol
a white man is his gun, and this is {
source Of Joy for him.
AS for the women, they condemn
themselves to bnrden-bearing all thei
Lives. AS soon as they are fun grown
steel and copper wire are wount