OS 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



night, and the people are sold off to the first caravan. 

 In some parts the pattering of musketry is incessant, as 

 it ever was in the turbulent states of Independent India. 

 It is rarely necessary to have recourse to violence, the 

 Wak'hutu, believing their tyrants to be emissaries, as 

 they represent themselves, from His Highness the 

 Sultan, and the chief nobles of. Zanzibar, offer none 

 but the most passive resistance, hiding their families 

 and herds in the bush. Thus it happens that towards 

 the end of the year nothing but a little grain can be 

 purchased in a land of marvellous fertility. 



As has been mentioned, these malpractices are severely 

 reprobated by His Highness the Sultan, and when the 

 evil passes a certain point remedial measures are taken. 

 A Banyan, for instance, is sent to the coast with warn- 

 ings to the Diwans concerned. But what care they for 

 his empty words, when they know that he has probably 

 equipped a similar party of black buccaneers himself ? 

 and what hope can there be of reform when there is not 

 an honest man in the country to carry it out ? Thus 

 the Government of Zanzibar is rendered powerless ; — im- 

 provement can be expected only from the hand of Time. 

 The Wak'hutu, indeed, often threaten a deputation to 

 entreat the Arab Sultan for protection in the shape of a 

 garrison of Baloch. This measure has been retarded 

 for sound reasons : no man dares to leave his house for 

 fear of finding it a ruin on his return ; moreover, he 

 would certainly be shot if the touters guessed his in- 

 tention, and, even if he escaped this danger, he would 

 probably be sold, on the way to the coast, by his trucu- 

 lent neighbours the Wazaramo. Finally, if they suc- 

 ceeded in their wishes, would not a Baloch garrison act 

 the part of the man who, in the fable, was called in to 

 assist the horse against the stag? The Arabs, who know 



