OUR " BOYS " AND SWAHILIS IN GENERAL 



thinking them almost good-looking, although it al- 

 ways seems as if other people's boys were hideous, 

 until you get to know them well too. 



This boy's name was Mbaruku/ and he knew a 

 little English. He asked rather high wages, but 

 we offered him eighteen rupees a month, which he 

 agreed to take. If boys have once been officers' 

 servants, they seem to like to continue being so, 

 passing from one to another. They feel, I believe, 

 that a little of the importance of the uniform de- 

 scends to them. 



From that day till the day we left him again at 

 Mombasa, on our return to England, Baruku re- 

 mained with us, proving to be a superior and faith- 

 ful servant ; and it was with great regret we said 

 '* Good-bye " to hfm. 



We were very amused at Mombasa station on 

 our way up. Baruku had left us to say " Good-bye " 

 to his friends, including his wife, whom he was 

 leaving behind ; he asked for an advance of pay for 

 her, which it is usually unwise to give, but we let 

 him have it, and this time it proved all right. 



As I was saying, at Mombasa station Baruku 

 appeared fearfully hot, but quite a swell in appear- 

 ance, in his travelling costume of white cap, white 

 coat and trousers, stick (silver-topped) and cigar- 

 ette. Boys like to travel in their best clothes, 

 then they walk about at each station with an air 



^ We dropped the M of hiis name. 

 29 



