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NGURU. 



contain 700 to 800 souls, including a Banyan, a 

 Kasimi Arab, and a stray Baloch: a few years 

 ago it could turn out 300 matchlocks. The two 

 stone mosques, which the people declare to be 

 ancient, are in ruins. Here the Wasawahili, who 

 in a thin fringe line the whole coast, appear to be 

 healthier than on the Island of Zanzibar. As usual, 

 there is less rain, and the little Msika is often 

 wanting. They send at all seasons foot caravans 

 to Xguru — the Ngu of M. Bebmann — a hilly re- 

 gion seven to eight days' march, nearly due west. 

 The normal ventures are beads, cloth, and wires, 

 and the returns are ivory and slaves, with smaller 

 items, such as rhinoceros' horn and various hides. 

 The trading parties are absent about six weeks, 

 Avhen no news of them will be held good news : * 

 formerly the wild Wanguru used to visit the 

 coast, till deterred by Moslem 'Avanies.' The 

 village exports sheep and ghi, holcus, maize, and 

 especially copal. A little cotton (pamba) for 

 domestic use is grown on the sandy landward 

 slope of the natural dyke, about one mile from 

 the sea : the shrub is allowed to run to wood. A 

 few words upon cotton-growing in Zanzibar and 

 East Africa generally may not be misplaced here. 



The mountains of Harar, that ancient capital 

 of the Adel Empire, are a granitic mass covered 



