506 CURRENCY OF AFRICA. 



of the prevailing fashion in the country he is about to explore 

 — finds himself with an accumulation of beads of no more value 

 than tokens would be if tendered in this country for coin of the 

 realm. The Waiyau prefer exceedingly small beads, the size 

 of mustard seed, and of various colors, but they must be opaque: 

 amongst them dull white chalk varieties, called ' Catchokolo,' 

 are valuable, besides black and pink, named, respectively, 

 'Bububu' and 'Sekundereche' = the 'dregs of Pombe.' One 

 red bead, of various sizes, which has a white centre, is always 

 valuable in every part of Africa. It is called 'Samisanii' by 

 the Suahele, 'Chitakaraka' by the Waiyau, 'Mangazi' = 

 ' blood' by the Nyassa, and was found popular even amongst the 

 Manyuema, under the name of ' Masokantussi ' = 'bird's eyes.' 

 AVhilst speaking of this distant tribe, it is interesting to observe 

 that one peculiar long bead, recognized as common in the Man- 

 yuema land, is only sent to the west coast of Africa, and never 

 to the east. On Chuma pointing to it as a sort found at the 

 extreme limit explored by Livingstone, it was at once seen that 

 he must have touched that part of Africa which begins to be 

 within the reach of the traders in the Portuguese settlements. 

 'Machua Kanga' = 'guinea fowl's eyes,' is another popular 

 variety; and the 'Moiompio' = 'new heart,' a large pale blue 

 bead, is a favorite amongst the Wabisa ; but by far the most 

 valuable of all is a small white oblong bead, which, when 

 strung, looks like the joints of the cane root, from which it 

 takes its name, 'Salani' = 'cane.' Susi says that one pound 

 weight of these beads would buy a tusk of ivory, at the south 

 end of Tanganyika, so big that a strong man could not carry 

 it more than two hours." 



At last the banks of the Zambesi were reached, and the 

 weary, hungry party took lodging in a temporary deserted vil- 

 lage. This was January 26th. They were detained the 27th 

 by rains; that day Dr. Livingstone wrote in his journal: 



" In changing my dress this morning I was frightened at my 

 own emaciation." 



