ch. vii THE SWAHILI AND THE SOMALI 67 



high order. The majority of Swahilis wash pretty- 

 thoroughly every day, and are also particular as to 

 their clothes ; neither do they smear themselves, to 

 any extent, with unsavoury unguents. As a conse- 

 quence they are devoid of the noisome odour which 

 everyone except the missionaries associates with the 

 up-country native. Secondly, they are comparatively 

 honest as a class, though of course there are excep- 

 tions. Perhaps I have been lucky, but I have found 

 that if one hands over money to a Swahili for his safe 

 keeping, one may look forward to the result with 

 equanimity. Usually speaking, they have no 

 exaggerated idea of the honesty of their fellows, more 

 especially of Somalis. A Swahili who has been with 

 me some five years is accustomed whenever he finds 

 that I have left valuables lying about, to conceal the 

 same in some most cunning hiding-place. Thus any 

 rupee notes discovered will be stowed for safety in the 

 interior of a boot, while a watch he holds it safest, if 

 there are any suspicious characters about, to conceal 

 within a sock or stocking which in its turn is thrust 

 into the inner recesses of a pillow. Thirdly, the 

 Swahili is clever, and picks up English ways, virtues, 

 and vices with great success. He is most observant, 

 and learns such things as waiting at table, cleaning 

 pistols and guns of new pattern, bicycles, or any 

 mechanism with the utmost despatch. Don't think 

 because your Swahili only addresses you in his own 

 tongue or responds to that language, that it necessarily 

 follows that he has no knowledge of English. Many 

 such understand every word you say. 



Finally he is generally cheerful, which is, perhaps, 

 the best trait of all. He will always see the comic 

 side of anything — even of his own misfortunes, though 



F 2 



