334 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



pet mode of reproof which sounds simple and uneffective 

 to European ears. 



The social position of the women — the unerring test 

 of progress towards civilisation — is not so high in East 

 Africa as amongst the more highly organised tribes of 

 the south. Few parts of the country own the rule of 

 female chiefs. The people, especially the Wanyam- 

 wezi, consult their wives, but the opinion of a bro- 

 ther or a friend would usually prevail over that of a 

 woman. 



The deficiency of the East African in constructive 

 power has already been remarked. Contented with his 

 haystack or beehive hut, his hemisphere of boughs, or his 

 hide acting tent, he hates and has a truly savage horror 

 of stone walls. He has the conception of the " Made- 

 leine," but he has never been enabled to be delivered of 

 it. Many Wanyamwezi, when visiting Zanzibar, cannot 

 be prevailed upon to enter a house. 



The East African is greedy and voracious ; he seems, 

 however, to prefer light and frequent to a few regular 

 and copious meals. Even the civilised Kisawahili has 

 no terms to express the breakfast, dinner, and supper of 

 other languages. Like most barbarians, the East African 

 can exist and work with a small quantity of food, but he is 

 unaccustomed, and therefore unable, to bear thirst. The 

 daily ration of a porter is 1 kubabah (=1*5 lbs.) of 

 grain ; he can, with the assistance of edible herbs and 

 roots, which he is skilful in discovering in the least 

 likely places, eke out this allowance for several days, 

 though generally, upon the barbarian's impulsive prin- 

 ciple of mortgaging the future for the present, he reck- 

 lessly consumes his stores. With him the grand end of 

 life is eating ; his love of feeding is inferior only to his 

 propensity for intoxication. He drinks till he can no 



