Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/450

 866 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. ^ At that time the youths aro gorged with the flesh of oxen, and drink the hot blood spurting from the arteries of the wounded animals, in order thereby to lay in the greatest possible store of muscle and ferocity. Tobacco and all alcoholic drinks are at the same lime strictly forbidden, the national experience having shown that indulgence in these dissipations leads to a general deterioration of the physical and moral qualities. Masai society is divided into the two great classes of warriors and men of peace, respectively distinguished by the terms clmuran and elmorua. These terras, which bear some resemblance to that of Ihn-Orma, the collective national name of the Galla people, would seem to argue in favour of the common origin of the two races, a view which is also supported by other arguments. The young men who have the prospects of a rich inheritance in cattle are usually grouped ia the peace- ful elmorua division ; on the other hand, the more numerous class whose prospects are less brilliant, enroll themselves in the warlike division, in order to improve their position by taking part in plundering expeditions. These generally live apart, far from the camping-grounds of the married people, but accompanied by young girls whose duty it is to tend the herds, to provide the necessary supplies, and prepare the equipments of the young braves. Their incursions range over vast spaces, often suddenly surprising peaceful populations some hundred miles off. The marauders creep stealthily along amid the nearer tribes, which are usually on the alert, and generally return to their homes by different routes, accompanied by the herds which they have seized, and which meekly follow them, ua if charmed by some secret magic incantations. Acting always under the guidance of leaders in whom they place implicit confi- dence, the cattle-lifters observe the strictest discipline on the march, and display great skill in executing the various tactics of sudden surprise, retreat, feints, and suchlike movements of border warfare. They fight in silence, without the beat- ing of drums, or any battle-cries; the warrior who betrays any symptoms of cowardice is hacked to pieces by his companions. Whoever fails to bring back the spear and other equipments of his comrade in arms, with whom he has made brotherhood by drinking the same blood, meets with universal scorn, can make no more friends, and becomes little better than an outcast. Like all fighting people, such as the Kafirs, Matebeles, and Zulus, the Masai exhibit a great love of finery and personal ornamentation. They are fond of painting their bodies in red ; a flowing white cotton robe, edged or striped in some bright colour, falls from the shoulders, being attached to the neck like the poncho of the Mexicans. The oval contour of the face is also enclosed in a leather band or strap, which is embellished either with a zebra's mane or the tufted bristles of a wild boar, or better still with a bunch of black ostrich feathers, this remarkable object forming an elliptically shaped headdress which is disposed diagonally in a line beginning under the nether lip, and running in front of the ear to the crown. Beneath this singular head- gear, from which the face appears to protrude as from the empty frame of a looking-glass, the shoulders are enveloped in a short cape which seems to consist of one mass of kites* feathers. Other white plumes are also