370 THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



dignified position of concubine to the head of the house 

 These slaves vary greatly in conduct. The most 

 tractable are those belonging to the Diwans and the 

 ** Wasawahili generally, who treat them with the utmost 

 harshness and contempt. The Arabs spoil them by a 

 kinder usage ; few employ the stick, the salib, or cross 

 — a forked pole to which the neck and ankles are lashed 

 — and the makantale or stocks, for fear of desertion. 

 Yet the slave if dissatisfied silently leaves the house, 

 lets himself to another master, and returns after perhaps 

 two years' absence as if nothing had occurred. Thus 

 he combines the advantages of freedom and slavery. 

 Moreover, it is a proverb among the Arabs that a slave 

 must desert once in his life, and he does so the more 

 readily as he betters his condition by so doing. The 

 worst in all points are those belonging to the Banyans, 

 the Indians, and other European subjects ; they know 

 their right to emancipation, and consult only their own 

 interests and inclinations. The Muwallid or domestic 

 slave is also used like the Pombeiro of West Africa. 

 From Unyainwezi and Ujiji he is sent to traffic in the 

 more dangerous regions — the master meanwhile dwel- 

 ling amongst his fellow countrymen in some comfortable 

 Tembe. This proceeding has greatly injured the com- 

 merce of the interior, and necessitates yearly lengthening 

 journeys. The slave intrusted with cloth and beads 

 suddenly becomes a great man ; he is lavish in sup- 

 porting the dignity of a fundi or fattore, and con- 

 sulting nothing but his own convenience, he will loiter 

 for six months at a place where he has been sent for a 

 week. Thus it is that ivory sold in Unyamwezi but a 

 dozen years ago at 10 lbs. for 1 lb. of beads now fetches 

 nearly weight for weight. And this is a continually 

 increasing evil. No caravan, however, can safely tra- 



