This consisted at first of a very wonderful young man, probably a
chief's son. He carried a long bright spear, wore a short sword thrust
through a girdle, had his hair done in three wrapped queues, one over
each temple and one behind, and was generally brought to a high state
of polish by means of red earth and oil. About his knee he wore a little
bell that jingled pleasingly at every step. From one shoulder hung a
goat-skin cloak embroidered with steel beads. A small package neatly
done up in leaves probably contained his lunch. He teetered along with a
mincing up and down step, every movement, and the expression of his face
displaying a fatuous self-satisfaction. When we looked back again this
youth had magically become two. Then appeared two women and a white
goat. All except the goat were dressed for visiting, with long chains of
beads, bracelets and anklets, and heavy ornaments in the distended ear
lobes. The manner people sprang apparently out of the ground was very
disconcerting. It was a good deal like those fairy-story moving pictures
where a wave of the wand produces beautiful ladies. By half an hour
we had acquired a long retinue-young warriors, old men, women and
innumerable children. After we had passed, the new recruits stepped
quietly from the shadow of the jungle and fell in. Every one with
nothing much to do evidently made up his mind he might as well go to
Meru now as any other time.

Also we met a great number of people going in the other direction. Women
were bearing loads of yams. Chiefs' sons minced along, their spears
poised in their left hands at just the proper angle, their bangles
jingling, their right hands carried raised in a most affected manner.
Their social ease was remarkable, especially in contrast with the
awkwardness of the lower poverty-stricken or menial castes. The latter
drew one side to let us pass, and stared. Our chiefs' sons, on the other
hand, stepped springingly and beamingly forward; spat carefully in their
hands (we did the same); shook hands all down the line: exchanged
a long-drawn "moo-o-ga!" with each of us; and departed at the same
springing rapid gait. The ordinary warriors greeted us, but did not
offer to shake hands, thank goodness! There were a great many of them.
Across the valleys and through the open spaces the sun, as it struck
down the trail, was always flashing back from distant spears. Twice we
met flocks of sheep being moved from one point to another. Three