314 THE ZANZIBARI 



of fever or complete nervous collapse through the exposure 

 would be over. Mwini was often far more efficacious as a 

 prophylactic against fever than any medicine. 



A mystery hangs over Mwini's fate. It is thought by 

 some, who know him only too well, that the capture of the 

 donkey caravan with which he disappeared came about 

 through some treachery of his own. They believe he is still 

 safe enough somewhere, enjoying a share of the booty of this 

 last escapade. But it seems to me far more probable that the 

 capture was made by the Masai, with whom under no circum- 

 stances would Mwini have conspired, for, from some reason, he 

 hated them bitterly. This explanation at least is more agree- 

 able, and I prefer to remember rather how he cheered us 

 when the way was weary, how he shared his rations with less 

 provident companions, how tenderly he nursed our sick, how 

 untiringly he trudged by rrie as we scoured Laikipia together, to 

 find a way that would avoid the kraals of the Masai. I always 

 looked with something like a blind eye at many of his little 

 ways and weaknesses, for I found in him a faithful friend and 

 an invaluable servant, and there will ever be in my heart a soft 

 corner for my merry old comrade Mwini Mharo. 



The study of the psychology of the Zanzibari is another 

 source of interest. His mental attitude to the European is 

 an interesting one, somewhat resembling that of a seventeenth- 

 century Puritan towards the Deity. Nothing a European 

 does now surprises him. His mind is absolutely blase. 

 The most cunningly devised European machinery fails to 

 evoke the slightest expression of astonishment. There is an 

 explanation ever ready to his mind. I once called one of 

 them to a telephone at Witu, and let him hear the voice of a 

 man whom he knew was at Melindi, five days' march away. 

 He listened, and said he recognised the voice, as if it were all 

 the most natural thing in the world. He was not in the 

 slightest degree surprised. It was simply another European 

 dodge, and there was an end of it, as far as he was concerned. 

 Probably he would not have been surprised if his great-grand- 

 father had been called from the grave to speak to him through 

 the wire. The instrument was European : he was African. 

 He could not hope that his finite mind would understand the 

 infinite subtlety of the Mzungu, and why should he try ? The 



