196 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



people, from whom they procure beads, cotton cloth, and other arti- 

 cles." An intercourse across this portion of the African continent, 

 has lonfT been known to exist; and the circumstance is in accordance 

 with Mr. Hale's remark, that dialects of one general language prevail 

 throughout. 



The three Monomoisy further stated, that " two days are required 

 to cross the Lake; sleeping at night on an island, the inhabitants 

 of which are friendly, and sometimes come down to the coast. The 

 length of the Lake is a two months journey by water," and one of the 

 party asserted, that he had been the whole distance. " The canoes 

 keep near the shore, and occasionally land to procure provisions. 

 Sails are not used, and the paddle is held vertically. The water 

 flows from south to north; and sometimes during rains, it rises and 

 covers houses." On mentioning the Moviza and Makua, they said, 

 that " the latter were far from them, but that the former, the Wabiza, 

 were near." 



" Their own town or district, is on this side of the Lake ;" and if I 

 understood rightly, its name is ' Tengasha ;' but ' Tarika' was also 

 mentioned. "Every town has its king; and theirs is Kiswagara. 

 Wutumbara, a large town, and the principal one of the Monomoisy 

 nation, is five days journey from them. Another town, Wajiji, distant 

 from them a ten days journey, is situated close to the Lake ; and has 

 a market, with great abundance of fish. The Monomoisy towns are 

 stockaded, but are all built in the plains, and not upon high hills or 

 rocks." Cannibalism was evidently a new idea to my informants, 

 who shuddered as it was explained ; saying, " that there are plenty 

 of tribes who fight and rob, but none that eat men." 



" It is sometimes cold in the Monomoisy country :" but my infor- 

 mants were found to be unacquainted with snow or ice : a fact imply- 

 ing the absence of high mountains. " Salt is procured from a hill, 

 distant about two days journey from their town. Honey is abun- 

 dant; and there are plenty of wild trees. Coffee is also abundant in 

 the bush, and is not cultivated. Ginger, too, is plentiful ; together 

 with a production resembling Cardamum seed, but large." 



The " Monomoisy cultivate ' paddy' or rice, also peas (Cajanus), 

 heans, pea-nuts (Arachis), sweet potatoes, cassada, and ^ Hi?idi' corn f 

 but whether they are acquainted with juari (Sorghum), I could not 

 clearly ascertain. " Gourds, the same as at Zanzibar, are plentiful, 

 and are called ' buyu :' and in some places, there is sugar-cane ; which 

 was likewise seen on the journey to the coast." Some Arab bread 



9 



