CHAPTER III 



KISMAYU AND THE JUBA RIVER 



It was still quite early when the Wiesman turned 

 inwards towards land before enteringr the intricate 

 channel which is the only passage into Kismayu bay. 

 The coast lay some five miles off, low, sandy, and 

 inhospitable, while in front of it rose a small island 

 and several isolated coral rocks, against which the 

 slow swell broke and foamed. These formed a 

 natural breakwater, and behind them rode on the 

 smooth surface of the bay a variety of native vessels 

 of all kinds. But before reaching this haven, a full 

 hour was spent in navigating the passage which 

 wound in and about between the coral reefs in 

 a most bewildering fashion. The wretched natives 

 had forgotten all their miseries, now that calm water 

 had been reached, and began chatting together and 

 discussing their plans in loud tones. Finally we 

 turned for the last time ; the skipper took a bearing, 

 and we went forward slowly into the bay, at the 

 other end of which the little town of Kismayu could 

 be seen, a cluster of white houses and native huts 

 nestling among the sand-dunes near the water's edge. 

 We anchored at last a mile and a half out ; all 

 around the little steamboat was a crowd of native 

 craft filled with Arabs, Somali or Bajun. Some 

 were helping to unload or bringing more cargo ; 

 others had come to meet friends or merely to look 



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