ACCOUNT OF THE WAMERU 



153 



of from about 3,500 to 5,500 feet, on the southern slopes of the 

 mountain. The beds of the streams on Mount Meru are much 

 deeper than those on Kilimanjaro, and the surrounding scenery 

 is perhaps, therefore, not quite so picturesque ; but the soil 

 is evidently more fertile, for nowhere else did we see such 

 luxuriant and fruitful banana-plantations. The banana is the 

 chief food here, but maize, beans, eleusine, with a few pota- 

 toes, are cultivated, and a variety of tobacco with pink 

 flowers is grown. The Wameru also breed cattle, sheep, and 

 goats, and their numerous bees yield better honey than we 

 tasted anywhere else in East Africa. 



The Wameru live in scattered huts, mostly made of straw 

 and of the shape of a hayrick ; but some few are exactly like 

 those of the Masai, except that they are bigger, and instead of 

 being covered in with earth and cow-dung, are finished off with 

 banana-leaves, which have a whitish sheen. Of course the 

 Wameru have affinities with the Masai, their constant inter- 

 course with the people of Arusha-wa-ju would ensure that ; 

 and many of their manners and customs resemble those of their 

 neighbours. Moreover, a good many Masai idioms have become 

 incorporated with Kijagga. 



Matunda, chief of the Wameru, enjoys very little real 

 power. He has to consult the wishes of the soldiery, especially 

 of the Arusha warriors, at every turn. We saw little of him, 

 and could never get access to him when quarrels were in the 

 wind. We often invited him, but he always made the excuse 

 that he was tipsy, a fact he confessed without the slightest 

 shame. 



There were, however, always plenty of men, women, and 

 children in our camp, although the rain scarcely ever ceased. 

 From early morning to sunset we were almost crowded out by 

 natives, and the immediate neighbourhood of our settlement 

 was never free from them. Our people had to barter for their 



