LEGENDS. 



3G1 



Mkungum — ague and fever. One of tlie Eungwi or 

 peasants welcomed ns to liis hut, and some twenty 

 of his neighbours crowded to ' interview ' us, and 

 to sell cocoas at the rate of 30 per dollar. They 

 declared that the cholera had been verv destruc- 

 tive, but that its violence had lately abated : they 

 could not supply us with milk because the herds- 

 men were dead. They boasted that none of 

 their race had mixed with Muhadimo or servile 

 Wasawahili, and Avithout being uncivil, they 

 were free, and by no means shy, evidently 

 holding that maitre charbonnier est maire chez 

 lui. 



In view of the ruins they recounted to us 

 their garbled legendary history. The Island was 

 originally inhabited by the Wahiao savages, from 

 whom the present race partly descends, and 

 Songo Mnara Avas occupied by the Wadubuki, a 

 Moslem clan. These Avere succeeded by the 

 Nabhani or Ghafiri Arabs, the builders of the 

 mosque just visited, and in the days of Ibn 

 Batuta (14th cent.) v/e find that ' the Sultan of 

 Oman was of the tribe of Azud, son of El Ghaus, 

 Avho is known by the name of Abu Mohammed, 

 son of Xabhan.' They died out, however, and 

 left the land once more to the Washenzi. Then 

 came the rule of the Wagemu, especially the 



