1866.] ARKIVES AT MATAKA'S TOWX. 73 



from the laughter with which his remarks were always 

 greeted, somewhat humorous. He had never seen any but 

 Arabs before. He gave me a square house to live in, indeed 

 the most of the houses here are square, for the Arabs 

 are imitated in everything : they have introduced the 

 English pea, and we were pleased to see large patches 

 of it in full bearing, and ripe in moist hollows which had 

 been selected for it. The numerous springs which come 

 out at various parts are all made use of. Those parts 

 which are too wet are drained, whilst beds are regularly 

 irrigated by water-courses and ridges : we had afterwards 

 occasion to admire the very extensive draining which has 

 been effected among the hills. Cassava is cultivated on 

 ridges along all the streets in the town, which give it a 

 somewhat regular and neat appearance. Peas and tobacco 

 were the chief products raised by irrigation, but batatas 

 and maize were often planted too : wheat would succeed 

 if introduced. The altitude is about 2700 feet above 

 the sea : the air at this time is cool, and many people have 

 coughs. 



Mataka soon sent a good mess of porridge and cooked 

 meat (beef) ; he has plenty of cattle and sheep : and the 

 next day he sent abundance of milk. We stand a good 

 deal of staring unmoved, though it is often accompanied 

 by remarks by no means complimentary; they think that 

 they are not understood, and probably I do misunderstand 

 sometimes. The Waiyau jumble their words as I think, 

 and Mataka thought that I did not enunciate anything, 

 but kept my tongue still when I spoke. 



Town of Mataka, Moembe. 15th July. — The safari 

 under Sef set off this morning for Eilwa. Sef says that 

 about 100 of the Kilwa people died this year, so slaving 

 as well as philanthropy is accompanied with loss of life : 

 we saw about seven of their graves ; the rest died on the 

 road up. 



