WAHIMA, WAKONDJA, AND SUAHILIS. 105 



village called Karimi they killed one woman and 

 carried off twenty-one others. They also seized 

 all the ivory which they could find and returned in 

 triumph. This appears to be a strenuous policy, 

 but it is only what every African potentate con- 

 siders as his due ; a chieftaincy simply consisting 

 in their eyes of the right to screw as much of the 

 three articles of value, cattle, ivory, and women, 

 out of their subordinates as they possibly can. 

 As an integral part of his treaty consisted in a 

 promise to put down slavery, this was not exactly 

 fair ; but the real failure of Kasagama lies in the 

 fact that he does not and never can carry out 

 the supposed duty corresponding to the rights of 

 the chieftain, which is to protect every one of his 

 people from outside attacks and plundering from 

 any source. The importance of protection against 

 raids is so great that it counterbalances a very 

 large amount of tyranny. 



Kasagama is a tall, strong, and rather stout man, 

 much bigger and finer to look at than any of his 

 people, and he is not by any means wanting in the 

 characteristic Wahima shrewdness and power of 

 driving a hard bargain. His court consists of a 

 large following of vicious and dissipated boys and 

 youths, who enjoy a very bad reputation in the 

 country. When he is in a bad humour, they 

 receive knocks all round ; and when he is good- 

 natured, drinking, singing, and dancing go on all 

 night long. His mother, Maosolia, enjoys a good 



