150 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



tional garb of their ancestors, proves its antiquity 

 throughout the regions eastward of the Red Sea. On 

 the African coast the Shukkah Merkani is worth about 

 0*25 dollars — Is. O^d., in the interior it rises to tRe 

 equivalent of a dollar (4s. 2d.) and even higher, The 

 Kaniki is but little cheaper than the Merkani, when 

 purchased upon the sea-board ; its increase of value in 

 the interior, however, is by no means in proportion to 

 its prime cost, and by some tribes it is wholly rejected. 

 A double length of Shukkah, or twelve feet, the article 

 worn by women who can afford it, is called a Doti, and 

 corresponds with the Tobe of Abyssinia and of the 

 Somali country. The whole piece of Merkani, which 

 contains from seven to eleven Doti, is termed a Jurah 

 or Gorah. 



After beads and piece-goods, the principal imports into 

 Eastern Africa, especially on the northern lines and in 

 the western portion of the great central route, are 

 Masango or brass wires of large sizes, Nos. 4 and 5. 

 They are purchased at Zanzibar, when cheap, at 12, 

 and when dear at 16, dollars per Frasilah of 35 lbs. 

 When imported up-country the Frasilah is divided 

 into three or four large coils, called by the Arabs 

 " daur," and by the Africans " khata the object is 

 convenience of attachment to the porters' banghy- poles. 

 Arrived at Unyanyembe they are converted by artisans 

 into , the kitindi, or coil-bracelet, a peculiarly African 

 decoration. It is a system of concentric circles extend- 

 ing from the wrist to the elbow ; at both extremities it 

 is made to bulge out for grace and for allowing the 

 joints to play; and the elasticity of the wire keeps it in 

 its place. It weighs nearly 3 lbs., yet — "vanity knows 

 no sore" — the women of some tribes will wear four of 



