ii2 TRADE AND COMMERCE. 



lias not rather given the first impetus is hard to decide. 

 At any rate, we should not under- estimate the fact that 

 the Bantu are distinguished for their active commercial spirit ; 

 and whoever visits the markets of Werahanje in Karagwa, 

 Rubaga in Uganda, and Mpara Nyamoga in Unyoro will find 

 convincing proofs of this fact. The collection at these centres 

 of the most diverse products, and the concourse of types of 

 nearly all the Eastern equatorial races, gives a vivid picture 

 of the natural and industrial resources of these regions, and 

 a clear insight into their commercial relations with one 

 another. A few words on this subject may be of interest. 



An extensive square of irregular shape lies close behind 

 Kabrega's large zeriba ; it is surrounded by luxuriant green 

 banana plantations and the high reed-fences of large groups 

 of huts. Gigantic fig-trees, on the grey, curiously distorted 

 boughs of which whole colonies of grotesque Platyceria have 

 settled, afford shade and coolness when the midday sun is 

 too scorching. Just now a lively, stirring scene is witnessed 

 at this place. People stream thither from all directions ; some 

 as sellers, laden with goods or driving before them cattle 

 intended for sale ; others as buyers, noisily bargaining with 

 strings of cowries in their hands, or goods for purposes of 

 exchange ; the light-brown Wahiima herdsman, with his 

 handsome clear-cut profile and his costume of skins, brings 

 for sale fresh butter neatly wrapped in banana leaves ; the 

 deep-black Wichwezi pariah, decked in many-coloured tatters, 

 hung all over with amulets and other curious ornaments, is 

 begging, and extolling his art — he is the gipsy of the coun- 

 try ; light-coloured Muscat Arabs, proudly conscious of their 

 colour and superiority, with their hooked dagger, the sha7iiba, 

 stuck in the girdle, are not too proud to go marketing them- 

 selves, and are buying vegetables, fruits, and meat ; their 

 soft-sounding Kisuaheli differs so little from the Kinyoro 

 that they soon make themselves understood ; restless, talkative 

 Waganda, draped in neat tan-coloured bark cloth, have brought 

 for barter the handsome soft mats of Uganda, together with 

 bark cloths and thick copper wire ; short sturdy men from 

 Nkole are selling in bundles the excellent tobacco grown in 

 their country ; the fair-skinned inhabitants of the hill-country 



