VI TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 259 



events, they contented themselves with the statement 

 that the event happened long ago. Their method of 

 counting was similar to that of the Masai. They 

 counted by tens to fifty ; beyond fifty was " many," 

 and a greater number was " very many." This was 

 expressed by several repetitions of the word " ipi " 

 (fifty). In matters of business they were unwilling to 

 trust to a verbal count. In trading, as, for example, 

 in acquiring a donkey, which had a value of six goats, 

 or other equivalent, they would produce six small 

 sticks, and as the value of each goat was tendered, 

 whether in iron wire, beads, or cloth, they would put 

 aside one of the twigs, and repeat this action until the 

 full value of the donkey had been accounted for. 



For all property of considerable value, such, for 

 example, as a woman, a cow, donkey, land, a house, 

 ivory, or the highly prized honey-wine, the unit of 

 value was a goat ; but in the purchase of grain, beans, 

 or edible tuberous roots, trade, among themselves, 

 was regulated not by any particular standard of value, 

 but by the eagerness expressed by one for the goods 

 of the other. For instance, a woman with a bag of 

 manioc would be able to exchange it for whatever 

 she considered its equivalent in grain or beans, 

 should she excite in some one having such articles 

 a similar desire for what she brought to market. It 

 was only in the barter and sale of vegetables and 

 grain that the women were allowed to engage. 

 Where articles of considerable value were bought or 

 sold, the matter was considered of too great moment 

 to be left to the feminine mind. Among themselves, 

 or with neighbouring tribes with whom they had es- 



