244 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



amusement to the attempts made by the Baloch to im* 

 press upon this truly African mind a respect for their 

 revelation. Gul Mohammed was the missionary of the 

 party: like Moslems generally, however, his thoughts 

 had been taught to run in one groove, and if disturbed 

 by startling objections, they were all abroad. Similarly 

 I have observed in the European old lady, that on such 

 subjects all the world must think with her, and I have 

 been suspected of drawing the long-bow when describing 

 the worship of gods with four arms, and goddesses with 

 two heads. 



Muzungu Mbaya, as the old hunks calls himself, 

 might be sitting deeply meditative, at the end of the 

 march, before the fire, warming his inner legs, smoking 

 his face, and ever and anon casting pleasant glances at 

 a small black earthen pipkin, whence arose the savoury 

 steam of meat and vegetables. A concatenation of ideas 

 induces Gul Mohammed to break into bis favourite 

 theme. 



" And thou, Muzungu Mbaya, thou also must die ! " 



"Ugh! ugh!" replies the Muzungu personally offended, 

 " don't speak in that way ! Thou must die too." 



"It is a sore thing to die," resumes Gul Mohammed. 



" Hoo ! Hoo !" exclaims the other, "it is bad, very bad, 

 never to wear a nice cloth, no longer to dwell with one's 

 wife and children, not to eat and drink, snuff, and smoke 

 tobacco. Hoo! Hoo! it is bad, very bad ! " 



" But we shall eat," rejoins the Moslem, " the flesh of 

 birds, mountains of meat, and delicate roasts, and drink 

 sugared water, and whatever we hunger for." 



The African's mind is disturbed by this tissue of con- 

 tradictions. He considers birds somewhat low feeding, 

 roasts he adores, he contrasts mountains of meat with 

 his poor half-pound in pot, he would sell himself for 



