Juliet's Kenya Days blog

Letter from Judy to Jill 24 Mar 1975 –

Yesterday we went for a drive into the Rift Valley and met two Maasai men who we gave a lift to. They asked us back to their hut for tea and next week we are going to be taken by them to visit their relative who live out on the plains and are ‘not civilised’ according to these men ! It should be an interesting visit ! I expect we will be offered milk straight from the cow but not (I hope) blood – this is the staple diet of the Maasai.

Letter from Judy to Nanny & Grandad 26 Mar 1975 –

Last Sunday we went for a drive around the Ngong Hills which lie to the south of Nairobi and rise up to 8,500 ft. On the far side they drop down to the Rift Valley about 3000 ft. There is a dry weather road right around (about 50 miles) and we much enjoyed it – the contrast between the dry thorn bush scrub of the Rift Valley which is Maasai land and the green of the hills was amazing. On the way back we gave a lift to two Maasai men who were on their way home from visiting their cattle which relatives look after out in the valley. These two were educated men and spoke English well. We went back to their hut up on the Ngongs for a glass of tea. When they found that Graham teaches their cousin at Alliance they invited us out to their relatives’ manyatta out in the valley where they are ‘uncivilised’ in the words of these men ! The Maasai are inordinately fond of sugar so I think we shall take some as a gift.

Juliet’s diary entry 6 April 1975 –

This morning we went to our two Maasai friends house. We met them two weeks ago while doing the Ngong Circular Tour. We gave them a lift because they had walked 50 miles to see their cattle which are kept by other people. They said they had gone for two days without any water ! I don’t know their names yet but they are two men – an oldish boy and his father. Anyway, these men took us to visit some of their relatives. We went to their married sister’s house, and their other sister’s house, also married. Then we drove to a shopping centre for Maasai people and there were supposed to be some people in their manyatta which we could visit but they had moved two days ago. Maasai people are nomads – they move from place to place following water and rainfall. We had a lot of space in our minibus and someone asked for a lift. We said yes so about 5 men and a lady with her baby calmly got in ! We gave them a lift anyway. Then on the way we came to a hill. The minibus started climbing up but didn’t quite make it so everyone got out except us girls and the lady and her baby. They pushed the van up to the top. After that we drove on until we came to another much steeper hill. Again we didn’t make it. We all piled out this time and us children walked up to the top while everyone else helped to push, but this time the engine wouldn’t work. In the end the van got up. We took the people to where they wanted and drove home.

Reminiscence by Helen – many of the people we gave lifts to were fascinated by my long, straight hair and would often lean over and stroke it, which I didn’t mind but found embarrassing.

Letter from Judy to Lisbeth & Peter 7 April 1975 –

The minibus failed to get up a very steep hill and the Maasai had to get out and push – a novel experience for them as the Morans (the young men) never lift a finger apart from killing the odd lion. However after a few minutes they gave up on their dignified affront and joined in and soon had a very good time as was being had by all with much shouting and laughter especially when we successfully reached the top !

Editorial note: Maasai (not Masai) is the correct spelling for this tribe: it means ‘People who speak Maa’. Masai was the incorrect spelling of the British settlers and has remained in current use. Although it is what we used in our written diaries and letters, I have altered it in this blog out of respect and to reflect current, correct usage.