OUR "BOYS" AND SWAHILIS IN GENERAL 



their shoulders, and almost skin-tight trousers with 

 large frills round the ankles, ornamented with em- 

 broidery ; round their heads they wear a twisted 

 oblong of brightly coloured cloth, set at an angle, 

 and odd cords and tassels, a most picturesque dress, 

 as they are most particular about the colours and 

 patterns. A manager of an English firm that im- 

 ported these kangas told me the material was made 

 near Manchester ; copper rollers for printing are 

 made in London, one for each colour or shade ; then 

 all these things are sent over to Holland to be 

 printed. The ladies are so fastidious they will not 

 wear the kangas when the fashion has passed, 

 several thousands of one pattern are ordered the 

 first time, but it never pays to re-order. Patterns 

 of flowers or dogs do not sell ; generally their 

 taste is good, but just now it is rather startling, 

 brilliant reds and yellows mixed with black happen 

 to be the latest style. Sometimes large patterns of 

 trains or ships appear just spread over the broadest 

 part of their bodies. Even in beads they are most 

 particular, a light shade of pink was imported, but 

 it was no good at all for sale. In their ears they 

 wear circles of tightly rolled coloured paper in 

 large holes made and stretched for the purpose, 

 sometimes three or four in each ear. These orna- 

 ments either look smart by having two colours 

 rolled alternately or else the women bead them 



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