180 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. TIL 



nyanda, are so abundant, that the people are all well-clothed 

 with it, and care but little for our cloth. Red and pink 

 beads are in fashion, and fortunately we have red. 



[We may here add a few particulars concerning beads, 

 which form such an important item of currency all through 

 Africa. With a few exceptions they are all manufactured 

 in Venice. The greatest care must be exercised, or the 

 traveller — ignorant 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. 



Thanks to the kindness of Messrs. Levin & Co., the bead 

 merchants, of Bevis Marks, E.C., we have been able to get 

 some idea of the more valuable beads, through a selection 

 made by Susi and Chuma in their warehouse. The Waiyou 

 prefer exceedingly small beads, the size of mustard-seed, 

 and of various colours, 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 " Sami- 

 sami " by the Suahele, " Chitakaraka " by the Waiyou, 

 ' ; Mangazi," = " blood," by the Nyassa, and was found popu- 

 lar even amongst the Manyuema, under the name of " Maso- 

 kantussi " = " bird's eyes." Whilst speaking of this distant 

 tribe, it is interesting to observe that one peculiar long bead, 

 recognised as common in the Manyuema 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 



