Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19
In Closed Territory
Continued from page 10
Continued from page 10

be grateful for. If bred of warrior race he is
apt to stick beside you in the face of hon, ele-
plant, rhino, or buffalo charge; but only be-
cause to run would stamp him among his fellows
as a coward unworthy to bear arms. But pull
one, drowning, from river at risk of your own
life, nurse him of wounds through a
threatened mortal sickness, though you may,
such are always among the first to shIrk or
desert you in time of need. Flog one soundly
for his derelictions and you have an indus
trious, cheerfully obedient servant.
With us that far bluff and threats had largely
served. tor | was reluctant to resort to whip
ping where it could be avoided; but at last l
found my threats had worn threadbare
The day s march was very short one and as
early as nine A. NJ. we had left our donkeys at
the MaggOrl no more than three miles back
from our new permanent camp, and had put
our headman with them to hasten forward the
head donkey man, Mafuta, and his charges; for
the day threatened ram and that meant serious
injury to the posho and to several uncured
head skins the donkeys carried.
Two natives serving as headr1en | had al
ready deposed for failure to keep marching
column safely closed up, and the then incum-
bent was Marini, a SlX-fOOt-twO MenyamweZ1
giant.
Hours passed; but no donkeys came. Three
times during the day l sent messengers to
hasten them, the two first returning with word
that they unoaded and resting at the
Maggori. Late in the afternoon the third mes
sage reached Marini and Mafuta, that if they
did not bring their and animals at once
l should come back and knfd CkilD the pair.
This served to the extent of fetching them into
camp, nearly two hours after dark with every
load drenched; for meantime a heavy thun-
derstorm had broken over us.
There were no questions, for apology or eX-
cuse was impossible The donkeys were fat
and underoaded, men and beasts fresh from
several days rest, the mornings march to the
Maggori only two hours and yet both Marini
and Nafuta came in sulky, gowering rebellious.
their men grinning over doing" a Mnsnngu
out of days loafng as they liked.
A Floseins
A BOUT the alternately blazing and Splut-
tering fire, for the foliage above our forest
camp was still dripping Of the rain sat grim
group of Wanderobo and Lumbwa. the fire
glintng brightly from their ivory-white teeth
as from the long blades of their straight planted
spears slicing huge mouthfuls of meat from the
roasting sticks before them with their sharp
sword blades and wolfing down the meat like
beasts, apathetic spectators of and a fitting
frame for the savage punishment necessary to
prevent general revolt.
"Mafuta, strip and ch1ne!" (down) my inter-
prefer called.
For an instant he glowered rebellion, and
then sullenly stripped himself of the latter
demalion wreck of brown cord coat that
began and ended his costume, and dropped to
the ground beside the fire. prone on his face.
.
Fancying himself well out of it, Marini
handed Mafuta ten beauties. administered with
absolute impartiality, five on each side, under
which the cul prt WINGED and writhed but ut
tered no plant.
Marni stepped back, and Mafuta bounded
to his feet. drew himself up, and saluted me
with one hand while rubbing with the other
whichever whack still hurt most, smile on his
face and cheerful Thanks, b7Odnd!' (mas-
ter)-he really meant an ugly rebel converted
to lot better opinion of his employer. Off he
started, but only to be stopped by:
'EugOjdE' (wait) "Mafuta! Chine Marini
Mafuta, give Marini ten Of the best''
shot would have startled the giant less
but down he lay, and at him Mafuta few with
vigor that could have left no doubt in Marni S
mind that Mafuta had become a wholehearted
and sincere convert of the beautiful theory so
few are willing to practise, that it IS more
blessed to give than to receive.
Forest Game Paths
NOW, come, as we imagined, within fifty or
sixty miles of Kericho, the nearest Gov
eminent police post, and mail and telegraph