Western Field Volume 6; The Sportsman's Magazine of the West (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ... they do not, but it is the exception. I firmly believe that this one custom more than any other has been the means of making the Masai a strong tribe and developing a fearless and tenacious character. My reasons for so thinking are as follows: The young man upon entering the ranks of warriors must induce a girl to live with him; now these girls can not be bought, but must go of their own free will, and may come away again if they so desire. It is a serious thing for a warrior to have said of him that his "Dito" (companion) left him on account of his lack of bravery or cleverness in securing "property" (cattle); consequently the young warrior strains every nerve, and undergoes great hardships and trials of endurance in order to have his "Dito" admire and brag about him. If there were no incentive to do this there would be a tendency to shirk hardships and responsibility. Who is it that will deny that the love of women and the desire to be thought well of by them has not been the source of ninety per cent, of all great deeds of bravery and sacrifice since the world began? Although history records as the chiefest incentive love of country and flag, I concede that these are only a step leading to the pinnacle of the true reason, to find which we must come back to some woman who caused the hero to go forth. In civilized countries it may be the sweetheart, wife or mother. In the case of the Masai it is his " Dito" so do not condemn the warrior too hastily but consider him, not as a civilized man but as a primitive fellow without the opportunity we have had to become great and intelligent. In past years some of their wisest men may have seen their tribe declining and threatened with an epidemic of cowardice, and taken this ...