238 THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



structed to hold the buildings. Water was a mile and 

 a half distant, and must all be brought in gourds. The 

 granaries were perched rakishly atop boulders, and 

 goats skipped about. People climbed atop big round 

 rocks and stood, upright and picturesque, to see us pass. 

 We rounded the corner and came to the headquarters 

 of a very wealthy and powerful sultan named Walioba. 

 As usual with these African kings, he did not live with 

 any great number of his people, but occupied a settle- 

 ment apart, together with forty or fifty of his courtiers, 

 soldiers, and their families. A very large square house 

 was building, behind a strong stockade. We marched 

 straight by to the guest houses. These were nine in 

 number, eight of the ordinary size, and one fully twenty- 

 five feet in diameter — the biggest circular house we 

 have seen. Its walls were plastered to a height of 

 three feet from the ground, and the space left open 

 under the eaves for a view out and for breeze. A flag- 

 pole with cords stood before this. Inside were two 

 benches made of sawn planks. They were very crude 

 planks, but they were sawn, and that was a curiosity in 

 savage Africa. Not only was the inside swept and 

 clean, but aU the grounds were likewise swept and piles 

 of firewood stacked. 



Immediately we arrived, strings of women came, bear- 

 ing each a great calabash of water which she emptied 

 into a jar outside each hut^ and then went away (ij 

 miles!) for more. The elders, very grave and ornate 



