GLIMPSES OF EAST AFRICA AND ZANZIBAR 



would die that afternoon, which of course neces- 

 sitated another " leave ". I replied that having al- 

 ready killed his mother, I neither recognised her 

 ghost nor any other mother from henceforth. 

 Without a smile he left my presence. Any friend 

 may become their "brother," so it entails a long 

 cross-examination to find out if a so-called brother 

 really owns the same parents, or even one, or neither. 

 Boys wear a cotton singlet, a loin cloth of "Ameri- 

 kani " (unbleached calico from America) or if rich 

 enough, then a "kikoi," a white longcloth with a 

 native woven coloured border and ends, and a 

 "kanzu," a long white shirt reaching nearly to the 

 ankles, often sewn with red at the neck, and some- 

 times made of very thin muslin or tussore silk. On 

 their heads either a red tarboush or white cap, the 

 head is always covered. Very often a master gives 

 his boy a livery of a coloured " kisibas," a waistcoat 

 with his initials on the pocket, and braided with 

 some contrasting colour. The Sultan of Zanzibar 

 always uses the royal scarlet, but dark green or 

 royal blue look well. 



The women in East Africa simply wear two 

 cloths or " kangas," one tied under both arms, and 

 the other thrown over their necks and arms. But 

 in Zanzibar they copy the Arab dress more closely, 

 and often have one kanga made into a little tight 

 dress to their knees, the other flung artistically over 



34 



