196 THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



Muntafiyah — the modern " Ploiaria Rhapta " of the Sa- 

 wahili coast from Lamu to Kilwa. 



Few details were given by the Arabs concerning the 

 vulgar herd of Waganda : they are, as has been re- 

 marked, physically a finer race than the Wayamwezi, 

 and they are as superior in character ; more docile and 

 better disciplined, they love small gifts, and show their 

 gratitude by prostrating themselves before the donor. 

 The specimens of slaves seen at Kazeh were, however, 

 inferior to the mountaineers of Karagwah; the com- 

 plexion was darker, and the general appearance more 

 African. Their language is, to use an Arab phrase, like 

 that of birds, soft and quickly spoken; the specimens 

 collected prove without doubt that it belongs to the 

 Zangian branch of the great South- African family. 

 Their normal dress is the mbugu, under which, however, 

 all wear the " languti " or Indian-T-bandage of goatskin ; 

 women appear in short kilts and breast- coverings of the 

 same material. Both sexes decorate their heads with 

 the tiara of abrus-seeds alluded to when describing the 

 people of Karagwah. As sumptuary laws impede the 

 free traffic of cloth into Uganda, the imports are repre- 

 sented chiefly by beads, cowries, and brass and copper 

 wires. The wealth of the country is in cattle, ivory, 

 and slaves, the latter often selling for ten fundo of beads, 

 and the same sum will purchase the Wasoga and Wan- 

 yoro captives from whom the despot derives a consider- 

 able portion of his revenues. The elephant is rare in 

 Uganda ; tusks are collected probably by plunder from 

 Usoga, and the alakah of about ninety Arab pounds is 

 sold for two slaves, male or female. The tobacco, 

 brought to market in leaf, as in Ujiji, and not worked, 

 as amongst the other tribes, is peculiarly good. Flesh, 

 sweet potatoes, and the highly nutritious plantain, which 

 grows in groves a whole day's march long, are the chief 



