We Made A Short Halt For Rest And Refreshment,
And Then Started Again On Our Journey To The Top
Of The Hills.
After a stiff climb for another two
hours, part of it through a thick black forest, we
emerged on the summit, where I found I was well
rewarded for my trouble by the magnificent views
we obtained on all sides.
The great Kilima
N'jaro stood out particularly well, and made a
very effective background to the fine panorama.
I was surprised to find a number of well-fed cattle
on the mountain top, but I fancy M'gogo thought
I was casting an evil spell over them when he
saw me taking photographs of them as they
grazed peacefully on the sweet grass which
covered the plateau.
Like most other natives of Africa, the Wa Taita
are exceedingly superstitious, and this failing is
turned to good account by the all-powerful "witch-doctor"
or "medicine-man." It is, for instance,
an extraordinary sight to see the absolute faith
with which a Ki Taita will blow the simba-dawa,
or "lion medicine ", to the four points of the
compass before lying down to sleep in the
open. This dawa - which is, of course,
obtainable only from the witch-doctor - consists simply
of a little black powder, usually carried in a
tiny horn stuck
through a slit in
the ear; but the
Ki Taita firmly
believes that a
few grains of this
dust blown round him from the palm of the hand
is a complete safeguard against raging lions
seeking whom they may devour; and after the
blowing ceremony he will lie down to sleep in
perfect confidence, even in the midst of a man-eater's
district.
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