the land of footprints-第35章
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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 or four herdsmen and innumerable small boys seemed to be in charge。 Occasionally we met a real chief or headman of a village； distinguished by the fact that he or a servant carried a small wooden stool。 With these dignitaries we always stopped to exchange friendly words。
These comprised the travelling public。 The resident public also showed itself quite in evidence。 Once our retainers had become sufficiently numerous to inspire confidence； the jungle people no longer hid。 On the contrary； they came out to the very edge of the track to exchange greetings。 They were very good…natured； exceedingly well…formed； and quite jocular with our boys。 Especially did our suave and elegant Simba sparkle。 This resident public； called from its daily labours and duties； did not always show as gaudy a make…up as did the dressed…up travelling public。 Banana leaves were popular wear； and seemed to us at once pretty and fresh。 To be sure some had rather withered away； but even wool will shrink。 We saw some grass skirts； like the Sunday…school pictures。
At noon we stopped under a tree by a little stream for lunch。 Before long a dozen women were lined up in front of us staring at Billy with all their might。 She nodded and smiled at them。 Thereupon they sent one of their number away。 The messenger returned after a few moments carrying a bunch of the small eating bananas which she laid at our feet。 Billy fished some beads out of her saddle bags； and presented them。 Friendly relations having been thus fully established； two or three of the women scurried hastily away； to return a few moments later each with her small child。 To these infants they carefully and earnestly pointed out Billy and her wonders； talking in a tongue unknown to us。 The admonition undoubtedly ran something like this：
〃Now； my child； look well at this： for when you get to be a very old person you will be able to look back at the day when with your own eyes you beheld a white woman。 See all the strange things she wears…and HASN'T she a funny face？〃
We offered these bung…eyed and totally naked youngsters various bribes in the way of beads； the tinfoil from chocolate； and even a small piece of the chocolate itself。 Most of them howled and hid their faces against their mothers。 The mothers looked scandalized； and hypocritically astounded； and mortified。
They made remarks； still in an unknown language； but which much past experience enabled me to translate very readily：
〃I don't know what has got into little Willie；〃 was the drift of it。 〃I have never known him to act this way before。 Why； only yesterday I was saying to his father that it really seemed as though that child NEVER cried…〃
It made me feel quite friendly and at home。
Now at last came two marvellous and magnificent personages before whom the women and children drew back to a respectful distance。 These potentates squatted down and smiled at us engagingly。 Evidently this was a really important couple； so we called up Simba； who knew the language； and had a talk。
They were old men； straight； and very tall； with the hawk…faced； high…headed dignity of the true aristocrat。 Their robes were voluminous； of some short…haired skins； beautifully embroidered。 Around their arms were armlets of polished buffalo horn。 They wore most elaborate ear ornaments； and long cased marquise rings extending well beyond the first joints of the fingers。 Very fine old gentlemen。 They were quite unarmed。
After appropriate greetings； we learned that these were the chief and his prime minister of a nearby village hidden in the jungle。 We exchanged polite phrases； then offered tobacco。 This was accepted。 From the jungle came a youth carrying more bananas。 We indicated our pleasure。 The old men arose with great dignity and departed； sweeping the women and children before them。
We rode on。 Our acquired retinue； which had waited at a respectful distance； went on too。 I suppose they must have desired the prestige of being attached to Our Persons。 In the depths of the forest Billy succumbed to the temptation to bargain； and made her first trade。 Her prize was a long water gourd strapped with leather and decorated with cowry shells。 Our boys were completely scandalized at the price she paid for it； so I fear the wily savage got ahead of her。
About the middle of the afternoon we sat down to wait for the safari to catch up。 It would never do to cheat our boys out of their anticipated grand entrance to the Government post at Meru。 We finally debouched from the forest to the great clearing at the head of a most impressive procession； flags flying； oryx horns blowing； boys chanting and beating the sides of their loads with the safari sticks。 As there happened to be gathered； at this time； several thousand of warriors for the purpose of a council； or shauri； with the District Commissioner we had just the audience to delight our barbaric hearts。
（b） MERU
The Government post at Meru is situated in a clearing won from the forest on the first gentle slopes of Kenia's ranges。 The clearing is a very large one； and on it the grass grows green and short； like a lawn。 It resembles； as much as anything else； the rolling； beautiful downs of a first…class country club； and the illusion is enhanced by the Commissioner's house among some trees atop a hill。 Well…kept roadways railed with rustic fences lead from the house to the native quarters lying in the hollow and to the Government offices atop another hill。 Then also there are the quarters of the Nubian troops； round low houses with conical grass roofs。
These； and the presence everywhere of savages； rather take away from the first country…club effect。 A corral seemed full of a seething mob of natives； we found later that this was the market； a place of exchange。 Groups wandered idly here and there across the greensward； and other groups sat in circles under the shade of trees； each man's spear stuck in the ground behind him。 At stated points were the Nubians； fine； tall； black； soldierly men； with red fez； khaki shirt； and short breeches； bare knees and feet； spiral puttees； and a broad red sash of webbing。 One of these soldiers assigned us a place to camp。 We directed our safari there； and then immediately rode over to pay our respects to the Commissioner。
The
