OUR NAMES IN SWAHELI 



point in the arrangement pleased us especially, viz. 

 that they would not gamble with each other any more. 

 They are really very great friends, perhaps a little 

 jealous of each other as to their respective standings 

 with us, and it is only when this terrible gambling 

 fever gets hold of them that they fall out. In holding 

 " shami " the other day with Ero, the Masai, I got 

 out of him what our respective names amongst them- 

 selves were. To our faces, and politely, I am always 

 called Bwana Kubwa, i.e. " Large Man," whilst 

 Coates is Bwana Kidoko, Le. " Small Man," but behind 

 my back I appear to have many names. To some I am 

 Bwana Taha Kula, i.e. " He who shouts when he is 

 hungry ; " to others Bwana Taha Mato, i.e. " He 

 who always wants a fire," from the habit I have got 

 of always wanting a fire lit in any hole I see, in the 

 hope of smoking something out. Others, again, call 

 me Bwana Cheka, i.e. " He who laughs, or makes 

 laughter," and again to others I am Bwana Raka 

 Puher, i.e. " He who takes pictures." 



Then, again, I discovered how strong a hold tribal 

 customs have on the natives. Neither Mahomed nor 

 Ero will eat meat other than beef or mutton. Some 

 of the men will not eat water-buck, others refuse to 

 touch zebra, and as kuro (water-buck) has been 

 practically the only meat procurable round here, the 

 punda milia (zebra) eating men have been complaining 

 a little ; but I have told them to wait a while, 



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