The Ivory Porter, the Cloth Porter, and Woman, m Usagara. 



CHAP. XVIII. 



VILLAGE LIFE IN EAST AFRICA. 



The assertion may startle the reader's preconceived 

 opinions concerning the savage state of Central Africa 

 and the wretched condition of the slave races, negroid 

 and negro ; but is not less true that the African is in 

 these regions superior in comforts, better dressed, fed, 

 and lodged, and less worked than the unhappy Ryot of 

 British India. His condition, where the slave trade 

 is slack, may, indeed, be compared advantageously with 

 that of the peasantry in some of the richest of Euro- 

 pean countries. 



The African rises with the dawn from his couch of 

 cow's hide. The hut is cool and comfortable during 

 the day, but the barred door impeding ventilation at 

 night causes it to be close and disagreeable. The hour 

 before sunrise being the coldest time, he usually kindles 

 a fire, and addresses himself to his constant companion, 



