Chapter li. 



villages, mere groups of huts surrounded by a hedge. They 

 belong to the tribe of Kavirondo, which was formerly one of the 

 most powerful and one of the wealthiest tribes around the 

 Victoria Nyanza. The crowds of men and women come across 

 the level country, carrying on their heads baskets woven with 

 great art out of grasses. The young people of both classes go 

 completely naked until marriage ; after marriage they wear a 

 scrap of goat-skin over the hips, rather as a symbol of the 

 conjugal state than as a garment. They are renowned for 

 tlieir modesty and for tlieir morality, which contrasts with the 

 dissolute tribes in the neighbourhood, although tlie latter are 

 clothed. The Kavirondo are sober, gentle, peaceable and 

 sociable. Sir Harry Johnston regards them as the most moral 

 people of Central Africa. 



The native costume is unfortunately doomed to raj)id dis- 

 appearance. Here, as everywhere else, civilization, intolerant 

 of all forms, aspects or traditions of life that differ from its 

 own, is swiftly introducing that monotonous uniformity which 

 tends to turn the whole world into one people. It can scarcely 

 be hoped that Kisumu, situated as it is at the terminus of a 

 railway, will long preserve its distinctive character. 



Clear indications of a rapid change are already visible. 

 Mingling with the naked natives are many partially or even 

 wholly clad in garments of white, striped, or gaily printed 

 cottons, over which they often wear some hideous European 

 garment, such as a waistcoat, a jacket, or a tail coat, 

 without the least consciousness of their grotesque and absurd 

 appearance. 



The market is lield in the open air or Tuider sheds erected on 

 purpose. It consists mainly of small t ratti c in dried fish, sweet 

 potatoes, grain and bananas. The buyers stand in groups 



44 



