THE WAGOGO WARRIOR. 655 



tresses, the whole population was habitually equipped for ex- 

 tremities. Speaking of his experience among them, Mr. Stanley 

 says : 



"As we passed the numerous villages and perceived the 

 entire face of the country to be one vast grain-field, and counted 

 the people everywhere in groups, by scores gazing on the white 

 man, I could not wonder at their extortionate demands, for it 

 was evident that they had only to stretch out their hands and 

 take whatever the caravan possessed ; and I began to think 

 better of them, because, knowing well their strength, they did 

 not use it without restraint." 



The Wagogo warrior is always equipped ; his weapons are 

 a bow, a sheaf of long, murderous-looking arrows, pointed, 

 pronged, and barbed ; a couple of light, beautifully made asse- 

 gois, a broad sword-looking spear, with a blade over two feet 

 long ; a battle-axe and a knob club. He carries also a shield, 

 painted with designs in black and white; this is oval shaped, 

 and made of the rhinoceros, elephant, or bull hide. The vil- 

 lages are full of these warriors. It was weary, anxious march- 

 ing, through jungles of gum and thorns, over rugged hills, and 

 across scorching plains, with such neighbors. Over and over 

 he was saved from serious trouble by the wisdom of " Speke's 

 faithfuls," who knew well the habits of the people. But vil- 

 lanous as they may be, the Wagogo believe in God or the " Sky 

 Spirit," whom they call Mulungu, and they address prayers to 

 him when their parents die. Mr. Stanley records a conversation 

 which he had with a Magogo trader, which may be interesting as 

 revealing something of the character and belief of the tribe: 



S. " Who do you suppose made your parents?" 



T. " Why, Mulungu, white man ! " 



S. " Well, who made you ? " 



T. "If God made my father, God made me, didn't he?" 



S. " Well, that's very good. Where do you suppose your 

 father is gone to, now that he is dead ? " 



T. " The dead die," said he, solemnly, " they are no more. 

 The sultan (chief) dies ; he becomes nothing ; he is then no 

 better than a dead dog, he is finished, his words are finished, 

 there are no more words from him. It is true," he added, see- 

 ing a smile on my face, "the sultan becomes nothing. He who 

 says other words is a liar, there ! " 



