CONVERSATION IN EAST AFRICA. 



243 



to strike a general terror. Twanigana, when safe in 

 the mountains of Usagara, would frequently indulge 

 me in a dialogue like the following, and it may serve as 

 a specimen of the present state of conversation in East 

 Africa : — 



The state, Mdula ? " (i.e. Abdullah, a word unpro- 

 nounceable to Negroid organs.) 



" The state is very ! (well) and thy state ? " 



" The state is very! (well) and the state of Spikka ? 

 (my companion)." 



" The state of Spikka is very ! (well.)" 



" We have escaped the Wagogo (resumes Twanigana), 

 white man 0 ! " 



" We have escaped, 0 my brother ! " 



" The Wagogo are bad." 



" They are bad." 

 The Wagogo are very bad." 



" They are very bad." 



" The Wagogo are not good." 



" They are not good." 



" The Wagogo are not at all good." 



" They are not at all good." 



" I greatly feared the Wagogo, who kill the Wanyam- 

 wezi." 



" Exactly so ! " 



u But now I don't fear them. I call them — — s and 



• s, and I would fight the whole tribe, white man 0 !" 



" Truly so, 0 my brother ! " 



And thus for two mortal hours, till my ennui turned 

 into marvel. Twanigana however was, perhaps, in 

 point of intellect somewhat below the usual standard of 

 African young men. Older and more experienced was. 

 Muzungu Mbaya, and I often listened with no small 



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