192 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



I have seen in addition, a few aboriginal Negro visiters. The follow- 

 ing details respecting the tribes which inhabit the main land of Eastern 

 Africa, were collected at Zanzibar. 



The Wanika. possess the country around Mombas; and their towns 

 were found by Dr. Krapf, to be "protected by being built in clumps 

 of thick woods;" it is presumed, against the incursions of the Ethio- 

 pian tribes, who border on the north and partly on the west. The 

 Wanika are known at Zanzibar only as slaves, and as such are in 

 request for the special purpose of " procuring toddy ;" for from living 

 on the coast, they have been accustomed to climb cocoa palms. Not- 

 withstanding that they were said to be common on the plantations, 

 I fell in with but a single individual. 



This man bore the marks of national designation; consisting of a 

 single notch filed between the two upper front teeth, with numerous 

 small scars on the breast. He gave me the following account of him- 

 self and his nation. "He belonged to Giriama, a town on the beach, 

 two days journey to the northward of Mombas. The Wanika extend 

 from Giriama, two days journey into the Interior; and the country 

 beyond, is uninhalnted." He had not heard of the river Oozy; but 

 from the opposite direction, the " Mombas people are continually 

 coming to Giriama. The Wanika fight with the bow and arrow, 

 and at close quarters, with the sword. The blade is made by the 

 M'Sigua and Wanika, from iron obtained partly from the Arabs; and 

 partly dug out of the ground and brought by the W"akamba. The 

 Wanika bury their dead, placing the head to the east; and it is cus- 

 tomary, after waiting ten days, to kill a bullock and make a feast, pour- 

 ing the blood upon the grave. The Wanika are all freemen ; and in 

 regard to his own case, he stated, that on the occurrence of a famine 

 about three years previously, families were obliged to sell some of 

 their members to purchase food. The Wanika circumcise, and are 

 all Muslim." Some bystanders, however, thouglit that they had no 

 other claim to the title, than the practice of the rite as an aboriginal 

 custom. " The Wakamba are friends, and would join the Wanika in 

 fighting against the Galla. The M'Sigua are likewise friends, and 

 come to Giriama : the Chaga do not come, but the Wanika sometimes 

 make visits to the country of the Chaga." With respect to the Ethio- 

 pian tribes, he stated, " that he had been at the market to which the 

 Galla come to trade, after a journey on their part of two months. 

 They are bad people, but after having taken an oath, they may be 



