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THE MASAI, THEIR LANGUAGE AND FOLKLORE, BY A. C. HOLLIS, WITH INTRODUCTION BY SIR CHARLES ELIOT, OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS, 1905




The smiths.
All Masai do not know how to make spears and swords; this is the work of the smiths. It is they who make the weapons, and the others purchase from them.
The smiths use in the forge a stone, a hammer, pincers, and bellows, and they make needles, bracelets, axes, anklets, weapons, and other things.
The iron which they work with they purchase from the Swahili, or they smelt the ore which they find in the bed of the Matapato river.
Every clan has its smiths; but there is one clan, the Kipuyoni, to which most men of this class belong.
The other Masai do not marry the daughters of the smiths, for it is not considered correct. The smiths marry amongst themselves.
If a Masai takes in his hand a spear or sword or other thing which a smith has held, he first of all oils his hand for it is considered improper for him to take it in his bare hand.

Concerning the shields and spears of the Masai warriors.

The warriors’ shields are not all of one design; they differ.

Each age and each sub-district has its own design.

In consequence, if the warriors meet an enemy, it is known to what age such a one belongs, and also to what sub-district.

There are four markings for the shields, the red one, the black one, the ornamental one, and the one for bravery 1

Likewise with the spears, they are not all marked alike.

If a spear is found, it can be ascertained by looking at the lower part to what age and also to what subdistrict its owner belongs.

1 The Masai make use of four colours in ornamenting their shields — white, red, black, and grey. White is obtained by mixing water with white clay; red clay mixed with the juice of the Solanum campylacanthum, Hochst., produces the red paint; black is procured from the ashes of Mcerua uniflora, Vahl., or from charred potsherds and gourds; and grey, which is but rarely used, is obtained from cinders.

Concerning the arrows of the Masai elders.

The old men have special marks for their arrows as the warriors have for their spears.

If an arrow is found, the generation and the sub-district to which its owner belongs can be recognized.