94 



GOVERNMENT. 



This reminds us of the Histoire d'un bouton and 

 the magical Teutonic refrain — 



' Trink Bier, liebe, liebe Lieschen,' 

 arguing, says the witty author, so deep a de- 

 votion to that art which hath power to soothe 

 the savage breast. With time and tune well de- 

 veloped, but wholly wanting in initiative, the 

 wild men easily learned music from the mission- 

 aries ; yet they have always preferred their own 

 meaningless declamation. Of course the Kin- 

 yika is an illiterate language. 



The policy of the Wanyika is a rude and law- 

 less liberty, equality, fraternity. None com- 

 mands where none obeys : consequently there is 

 no ' temperamentum of chief,' no combination, 

 and no possible improvement. The headman plies 

 his hoe, like the serf, in his little plot of maize 

 or manioc ; and the clans will not unite even 

 to protect life. Causes are decided by a council 

 of elders, according to the great African code — 

 ancient custom. The chief of the five Shaykhs 

 is he of B^abai Mku ; but even he dare not arro- 

 gate to himself any authority. Pilfering is com- 

 mon, robbing is rare ; and a man caught in the 

 act of stealing is chastised by the proprietor with 

 sword or bow. Adultery is punished by the fine 

 of a cow and abundance of liquor. The mur- 



