PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O. 885
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20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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Mr. MacDonald replied that he did not think there would be any objection because they had branded a large number lately.
His Excellency did not think there would be any difficulty with either the Kikuyu, the Masai, or the Nandi.
Mr. MacDonald mentioned that all cattle in these reserves had been branded with an "S." He also mentioned that the introduction of branding reduced stock thieving in South Africa to a great extent, though branding was not compulsory there.
In reply to a question by His Excellency, Mr. Hollis said he did not think the Masai would object to branding. All the Masai cattle were marked with native brands.
Mr. Tarlton said that if the branding of native cattle was made compulsory it would be necessary for Government to brand them with the Government brand. If the natives were allowed to have brands of their own it would be no protection at all.
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Mr. Hollis said this would mean an enormous task for Government. The estimated number of Masai cattle was 180,000.
Mr. Hill asked whether it would not meet the case to make it illegal for the Masai to own cattle bearing European brands.
Mr. MacDonald said that it was illegal for a native to own cattle with European brands on them unless the brands had been reversed.
Mr. Tarlton: Only one brand?
Mr. MacDonald replied that the last brand must be reversed.
In reply to Mr. Hill, Mr. MacDonald said he thought they could easily get over the question of how the branding should be done.
Mr. Tarlton said it seemed to him that there would be no difficulty about branding 180,000 head of cattle. It was not a thing that was going to be done every day, and the Veterinary Department had already branded a great many native cattle. He did not think it should be compulsory for Europeans unless it was compulsory for natives.
Mr. Watkins said his own personal opinion was that before making branding compulsory the question should be submitted to the different Associations.
His Excellency said that branding was admitted to be useful, and that it stopped thieving to a certain degree. Government could put forward proposals.
(3) Secret Service and Policing.-With regard to secret service and policing, His Excellency said that perhaps Mr. Notley would say what was being done now.
Mr. Notley said that as far as the city areas were concerned, the actual policing of the district was done by a system of patrols. In European districts every farmi was visited once a month. They also had native patrols-usually two natives visiting farms, if possible once a fortnight; they took round with them a book in which settlers were requested to enter any complaints. In any special case-for instance, if a European complained of thefts on his farm-special efforts were made to deal with it. All native constables in plain clothes were, if possible, taken from other districts; they were not known to the native population and were taken on by settlers. In one or two instances they had managed to capture thieves in that way. The theft in almost every case was traced to the herd boy.
In reply to a question by His Excellency as to whether Mr. Notley could say if a fairly efficient system of patrols was being carried out, or if it required strengthening, Mr. Notley said he thought the system at present met the require-
ments.
Mr. Watkins said that, with regard to patrolling, native constables did visit the various farms at different times with a book, which was filled in occasionally; but it appeared to him that no one ever knew what complaints were put' there. He referred to a complaint made by a settler in which it was stated that a constable had set fire to the grass on his farm. He did not know whether any action was taken in the matter. He also referred to the removal of the Masai, which left the road open to Nyeri. The cattle which had been stolen from him were taken that way.
When the Masai were there he had had no trouble at all. He com- plained that the country where the Masai had been was not properly controlled, and he was sure it would be for the benefit of the settlers if it was controlled. He did not think the present system was much good. He thought mounted white police should be employed, or, failing that, good, trustworthy askaris.
Mr. Anderson said he had extreme confidence in the police in all matters out- side stock thefts. He did not think they were very effective in tracing stolen stock.
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-Cattle had been stolen from his farm, 6 miles from Nairobi, and the matter placed in the hands of the police within 5 hours, but they were unable to find any trace. He thought that the police force should be strengthened with three or four white policemen with large experience in tracing stock thefts. It was not work that an ordinary policeman could take up. He would suggest that three or four trained men should be appointed; they should be paid a higher salary but should be men of very great experience of that work. He thought it would have a very good effect in this country. He did not think the plain-clothes native was very useful.
His Excellency said that the main factor was a knowledge of the native. Anyone from outside would take a long time to get a knowledge of the natives.
Mr. Anderson said it might be that Mr. Notley had some men who had a certain amount of such training. He would suggest that these men be put on that work only and relieved of other work. Trained white men were essential.
Mr. Notley thought that men with such experience must naturally be better than men who had no such knowledge, but he very much doubted whether He thought that in so far as Mr. Anderson's suggestion was a practicable one. tracing stock was concerned, the only possible way was by " spooring." He did not think they could get a white man to beat the native at that. Natives were available for that purpose, and wherever stock thefts had taken place and the police had been advised within a reasonable time an endeavour had been made to get these natives on to the work.
His Excellency presumed that it would be desirable, as Mr. Anderson had pointed out, that one or two white men should direct.
Mr. Anderson said that the native without a white man was not satisfactory. No native born was equal to the average white man.
Mr. Hill said that his experience of the police was that they did everything possible to help. They had great difficulties to contend with. The white man on foot, however, was absolutely hopeless, as he could not get about quickly.
With regard to ostrich-feather stealing, Mr. Notley said he must admit that they found enormous difficulty in tracing thefts of ostrich feathers as the feathers were very difficult to identify. Unless the native was caught in the act it was almost impossible to get a conviction.
Mr. Tarlton did not agree with Mr. Notley that there was difficulty in identify- ing ostrich feathers. A man with experience of ostriches would have no difficulty in identifying the feathers.
Dr. Atkinson thought they must get a Kikuyu to catch a Kikuyu. He did not mean a detective who had very likely been a criminal himself or a man appointed by chiefs of their own country. He wanted patrolling in plain clothes on the borders to try and catch the man not when he was leaving the district, but when he was He did not think there would be any danger of these detectives coming back to it. giving false information. It would not seem to be an expensive operation to pay such men. If the appointments were to rest in the hands of the chiefs they would only fail to secure the criminals.
His Excellency asked if he understood Dr. Atkinson to mean that he wanted The natives came and
to see tribal police (Moran) acting as police in the settled areas. Dr. Atkinson replied that he meant outside settled areas.
returned by roads in the country between settled areas.
The
His Excellency thought that it might be arranged to clear up such areas. Moran had no power outside their reserves, but these natives could be brought in by
a body of police. It would, however, have to be very carefully done.
Mr. Hollis said he thought it would be an excellent scheme. They had tribal retainers, and he did not see why they should not patrol from time to time the borders of the native reserves. The thieves generally collected in the forests, and the only thing to do was to go there from time to time and clear out all the natives, and even the cattle they had got.
His Excellency said that was what he proposed to do on the Aberdares. Mr. Cameron said that when he was in the Lumbwa Reserves he had enquired of the sultans (chiefs) whether they were advised of cattle thefts, and they said they were not. He thought that in all cases of thefts the chiefs and headmen of the district should be advised.
His Excellency mentioned that Lumbwa was one of the most difficult parts to deal with. They had the Nandi on one side and the Lumbwa on the other. The Sotik was one of the most difficult places in the whole country. He did not hear