XI 



77?^ VELS m EASTERN AFRICA 



497 



of sheep and goats, and live almost entirely by agri- 

 culture. In physique and habits they are very much 

 akin to the Wakamba, though less daring. I have 

 found it almost invariably to be the case in East 

 Africa that those natives who inhabit the hilly coun- 

 try (possibly because in their homes they feel greater 

 security from attack) seem to have in great degree 

 lost the manliness and independence of character 

 which go in great measure to redeem the disagreeable 

 traits of the inhabitants of the plains. 



The Teita people are very superstitious. One story 

 which reached my ears concerning their religious 

 beliefs is worthy of mention. Some years ago their 

 country had been visited by a devastating drought, 

 in consequence of which they were threatened with 

 starvation. The wise men assembled, and for days 

 discussed the probable cause of the drought and the 

 means adapted to hastening its end. These people 

 worship their ancestors, and one of the rites of this 

 worship is carefully to heap the skulls of the de- 

 ceased males of the tribe in piles near their villages. 

 While casting about for the cause of the drought, 

 one old man suggested that they count the skulls 

 of their ancestors. This was done, and to their 

 horror they found many were missing. To appease 

 the wrath of these familiars, the Teita people decided 

 to slay sheep and add their skulls to the piles of 

 their ancestors. This was done, and immediately the 

 flood-gates of the heavens opened, and the drought 

 ceased. 



The capital condition of the road from the mission 

 to the coast is owing entirely to the efforts and intel- 



2 K 



