Mervyn Maciel when he was a government official in Marsabit.
It was during the days when we, the Goan staff in Marsabit, were not provided with indoor sanitation in our government quarters.
This meant walking up to the latrine, which was some distance from our houses. It so happened that on this particular occasion, I needed to use the latrine in the dead of night.
Armed with a powerful torch, I made my way to the latrine and the moment I flashed it to direct my way, I was greeted by the sight of a buffalo staring straight into my eyes.
For a moment I froze, before making a quick dash towards the house — not sure if I wet my pants in the bargain but trembling with fear while at the same time grateful that I was not harmed! I felt I was lucky not to have been attacked by the buffalo.
This is one incident I still remember and often wondered how the game staff, who were exposed to much greater dangers on a daily basis, coped.
Months later, a piped water supply was installed at Marsabit and sanitation conditions greatly improved.
For readers who may not be aware, the office of the District Commissioner was the main centre where all taxes were paid during the colonial era.
Firearms and game licences were also renewed there. In short, this was the centre of all official activity. It so happened that on this particular occasion, a European police inspector walked into our offices, threw his revolver across the cashier’s table and asked that his firearm licence be renewed.
Seeing I was seated not far from the cashier, who I often helped when he was under pressure, I was asked to renew the licence, and the revolver passed over to me. I can’t understand why I was instantly inspired by a crazy and dangerous idea.
Instead of immediately renewing the firearms licence, I held the revolver up to the face of the police mechanic who was standing at the window nearby and shouted, “Hands up, John”. It was a bad joke, but at least I did not pull the trigger.
What happened next is something I can only describe as providential! It is something I shall never forget! While I was busy writing out the renewal firearms receipt, the cashier asked me to pass the revolver to him. As I did that, I pointed the revolver towards the ground and inadvertently pressed the trigger.
An almighty bang followed and there was total chaos in the office.
The Police Quarter Guard stationed a few yards from the DC’s office, fearing that we had been attacked, quickly sent out a bugle call to alert everyone that trouble was ahead. You can just imagine how embarrassed I felt at having caused the commotion.
What further worried me was the fact that had I pulled the trigger earlier, the police mechanic (John) would almost certainly have died. This would have resulted in my immediate arrest and subsequent charge for murder. My dream of being married to my sweetheart would have been shattered and instead I would be languishing in jail.
The very thought makes me shudder to this very day.
For many readers this experience may sound quite odd, but those of us who worked in the so-called Northern Frontier District had to be prepared for any eventuality.
On this particular occasion, I had just about finished my day’s work — we typically worked well beyond normal office hours — and was getting ready to go home. As always, our faithful Burji Office assistant Shalle Hirbo would never forget to remind me to check the Treasury safe to make sure I had locked it.
I had done this and was making my way homewards when, on reaching the exit, I nearly stamped on a snake – a Puff adder at that!
The snake wriggled his way into the office and, overcome with fright, I jumped on the filing cabinet which was not far from me. I then asked Shalle to bring me the spear which was in the DC’S office (this was an exhibit in a murder case which was awaiting trial).
Meanwhile, Jim Cable, a Police Inspector, happened to be passing by on his way home and seeing the commotion, said he would rush home and bring his revolver. I was still ‘perched’ on the filing cabinet and good old Shalle Hirbo promptly handed me the spear.
Taking aim at this deadly reptile, I managed to lodge the spear directly on its head and while the snake wriggled a lot, I managed to hold the spear tightly on him and with Shalle striking him firmly with one of his crutches, the creature was dead!
Inspector Cable was a bit disappointed to find that he didn’t have the opportunity to use his revolver after all. News about this incident spread fast among everyone and they were all so pleased that I had come to no harm.
These, and similar incidents when I had to sleep in a house with no ceiling and seeing all manner of creepy crawlies all over my sheets were some of the hazards we in the frontier had to put up with.
Despite all this, I never wanted to leave the region, and Marsabit in particular, but had to accept the fact that ‘beggars can’t be choosers’!
For many readers this experience may sound quite odd, but those of us who worked in the so-called Northern Frontier District had to be prepared for any eventuality. On this particular occasion, I had just about finished my day’s work — we typically worked well beyond normal office hours — and was getting ready to go home.
As always, our faithful Burji Office assistant Shalle Hirbo would never forget to remind me to check the Treasury safe to make sure I had locked it. I had done this and was making my way homewards when, on reaching the exit, I nearly stamped on a snake – a Puff adder at that! The snake wriggled his way into the office and, overcome with fright, I jumped on the filing cabinet which was not far from me.
I then asked Shalle to bring me the spear which was in the DC’S office (this was an exhibit in a murder case which was awaiting trial).
Meanwhile, Jim Cable, a Police Inspector, happened to be passing by on his way home and seeing the commotion, said he would rush home and bring his revolver. I was still ‘perched’ on the filing cabinet and good old Shalle Hirbo promptly handed me the spear.
Taking aim at this deadly reptile, I managed to lodge the spear directly on its head and while the snake wriggled a lot, I managed to hold the spear tightly on him and with Shalle striking him firmly with one of his crutches, the creature was dead! Inspector Cable was a bit disappointed to find that he didn’t have the opportunity to use his revolver after all.
News about this incident spread fast among everyone and they were all so pleased that I had come to no harm. These, and similar incidents when I had to sleep in a house with no ceiling and seeing all manner of creepy crawlies all over my sheets were some of the hazards we in the frontier had to put up with.
Despite all this, I never wanted to leave the region, and Marsabit in particular, but had to accept the fact that ‘beggars can’t be choosers’!
