CHAPTER VII 



THE SWAHILI AND THE SOMALI 



Though not forming numerically any very con- 

 siderable feature of the Highlands, these two races 

 have managed to impress themselves very markedly 

 thereon. The Swahili owes this impression to his 

 language, which is the universal medium of conversa- 

 tion with the natives of the Protectorate, the Somali 

 to his own dominant and acquisitive personality. 



The genuine Swahili is the product of a cross 

 between the Arab and the coast native, and should 

 probably have a distinct trace of Arab ancestry in his 

 features and complexion. Less correctly, any native 

 who lives in or round Mombasa calls himself and is 

 called a Swahili ; while up country any native who 

 has the language and has been in European employ, 

 makes haste to lay claim to the title. This is so 

 naturally, since Swahilis ask for and obtain a higher 

 rate of wages than other natives. 



I cannot claim to be wrapped up in any of the 

 coloured races of the Protectorate, but of all such the 

 genuine inhabitants of Mombasa and its neighbour- 

 hood are without doubt the best, and have often much 

 to commend them. To take their virtues ; they are 

 firstly most distinctly clean, which is a virtue of a very 



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