VI 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



219 



After we had been in Daitcho eight days, some old 

 men came to our camp bringing a sheep, and went 

 through the ceremony of blood-brotherhood. During 

 this function I placed a little spirit in a saucer, and 

 lighted it with a match, meanwhile pronouncing some 

 nonsensical words in an impressive tone. Then I 

 dropped a pinch of salt upon it, and changed the colour 

 of the flame from blue to yellow. This act inspired 

 the old men with an enormous amount of reverence 

 and respect for my ability as a magician. 



Upon concluding the muma ceremony, the elders 

 told us they had heard of our victory over the 

 Wamsara, and, as the Wamsara were their particular 

 enemies, they felt certain we should be their friends ; 

 but in order to prove our friendship for them in the 

 most satisfactory manner, they urged us again to attack 

 the Wamsara, and also to exterminate another tribe 

 called Janjy, against whom they appeared to have some 

 grudge. Needless to say, we did not acquiesce in their 

 desire. 



Our camp at Daitcho was pitched thirty minutes' 

 walk from the nearest village, and in the midst of 

 millet plantations. Daitcho consists of a portion of 

 the country about 10,000 acres in extent, half of it 

 being situated upon the lowest foot-hills of the eastern 

 slopes of the Jombeni range ; the other half, in the 

 plain below. It is inhabited by not more than 3500 

 people. These people subsist entirely upon the prod- 

 ucts of the soil. They grow millet, Indian corn, and 

 a few bananas. They are particularly fond of the 

 edible roots growing higher up on the hills in the 

 Embe country, and exchange their surplus crops for 



