The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-28
AFRICAN POLICE
HAVE QUEER WAYS
Col. Roosevelt Admires Natives Who
Maintain Peace of Nairobi District
Costumes Are Picturesque.
ax wARRlNeroN DAWSON.

the native policemen. called askarls
There are 400 of them 10 MAINTAIN
the peace OF the Nairobi district. ana
they are under command OF British
officers. most OF whom fought In the
Boer war.
These native policemen are uncom'
monty well trained and soldierly look
ing. and show that discipline can DO
much TO develop the African native
They are not allowed TO load the nne
muskets with which they are supplied,
however for the British officials know
perfectly well that. whatever the dis
cipline, In time OF uprising they
would go over TO their fellows and
shoot down their white officers. SO
the best way is TO train them TO driil
properly, hold themselves well ana
exercise the majesty Of the law over
offenders great and small.
IL cannot be concealed that some
times these askaris commit thefts ana
offenses themselves. or shield tnelr
tribesmen against the common enemy
the white oppressor. When discover
ed they are Immediately discharged
and recruits are found easily enough.
Askaris are on duty In the streets
They patrol the roads. act as escort
to government caravans or TO con-
voys OF mails or money going 20 the
interior They are guards TO the ma
tive convicts, and they can often be
seen leading through the street Ne
gro whom they have just handcuned
A chain is attached to the handcun
and the policeman always drives his
prisoner ahead OF him.
Costume ls Picturesque.
The costume Of the askaris Is very
picturesque. blue puttees. khaki
shorts" or breeches reaching half
way down the thigh. dark blue sweat
ers, broad red sashes and red feZZes-
They are required to retain their tri-
bal traditions OF going barefooted. al
though heavy boots are included In
their Official kit. because they are so
accustomed TO their bare feet that
they can scarcely walk In shoes and
are horribly sore afterwards.
The natives make no resistance
when an askari tries to arrest them,
and the askari Is never loath 10 exer-
else his authority. But what Is a
more awkward position. is where
white man must be arrested by them.
since there are no other policemen.
There is a handful OF young bloods
element OF white settlers. who take
pleasure in smashing street lamps or
DESTROYING rickshaws or damaging
houses and fences at night. and who.
when an askari attempts u fulfill his
duty and arrest them as he would any
other lawbreakers. curse him for
black swine or anything else they
think OF at the time and dare him 10
touch them, and they often maui him
IL he insists on doing his duty
In Demand as Gardeners.
The Kikuyus are the natives most
frequently seen at Nairobi. for they
are an agricultural tribe whose coun-
try lies round about here. They are
much in demand as gardeners. Some
are employed as servants also. but
they are rather stupid about house.
and Swahilis are preferred, or else
Kavirondos from up by Lake Victoria
Nyanza.
Some few households employ Nasal
servants, from the famous warrior
tribe. and when they consent TO De-
come servants they are very satisfac-
tory: but as a rule they are very IN
dependent by nature. They come into
Nairobi as II the place belonged to |
them. They refuse any form OF work
except cattle raising. which Is their
traditional occupation, and they deal
on the whole with their white rulers
as with being perhaps their equals
but certainly not their superiors.
The Kikuyus dress In a skin or
blanket looped over the left shoulder
and hanging down TO their knees on
that side. while on the other, the right,
the whole line OF the leg and the hip
bone can be seen as they walk They
love To decorate themselves. and they
wear bead necklets. bracelets and
anklets. The cartilage OF their ears
is stretched 80 that sticks OF wood, |
steel and brass ornaments, rings cut
from elephants tusks. and anything
else big and impressive may be
slipped IN.
The Kikuyu wears his wool like a |
bowl on the top OF his head. the edges
being shaved of round the forehead. |
temples, ears and neck. He Is not
afraid OF working or carrying bundles
on his back. provided someone stands
over him TO see that he does II. Two
of them may pass with their burdens, !
talking as they go with a Swahili |
house boy, using the Swahili language |
which Is the French of Africa. since |
ell tribes are supposed TO have a smat- |
tering OF IL just as all Europeans are |
supposed to know French.
The Swahili presents a contrast, |
for instead OF going hareheaded with |
a crown OF wool. he has all his hair |
completely shaved off and wears a |
fez; he may Furthermore wear a cast |
OF coat OF his masters. but beneath |
II he must wear a species OF night |
shirt of white cotton falling to his |
knees. which are bare. as are his feet. |
The house boy who lets his hair grow.
or removed his fez. or put on breeches. |
or aspired TO shoes. would be immedi |
ately turned out by his master. as
that is their traditional garb. and |
change In II is always understood by !
them as a deliberate insult to their |
masters.
Passes the Word
They invariably try at least one |
trick on a new master fresh from
Europe; IL he nips II in the bud he
may have a good servant for the rest
OF his stay, and he will certainly have
no serious trouble, but ii he let's II
pass unobserytd the SwahllI knows
he is dealing with an ignoramus and
so robs. cheats and betrays him and
passes on the good word to the rest OF
the tribe.
The natives are used for various
public works. repaving the roadwaya,
improving the waste lands lying along
side OF the town. and like things: but
there Is always the appearance Of
something unnatural about them when