198 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



that day. I left them to Said bin Salim, who, with 

 many others, did not appear till eventide. 



Eumuma is a favourite resting-place with caravans, 

 on account of the comparative abundance of its sup- 

 plies. I halted here two whole days, to rest and feed 

 the starving porters, and to repair the sacks, the pack- 

 saddles, and the other appointments of the asses. Here, 

 for the first time, the country people descended in 

 crowds from the hills, bringing fowls, hauling along 

 small but beautifully formed goats, lank sheep, and fine 

 bullocks — the latter worth twelve cloths — and carrying 

 on their heads basket-platters full of the Voandzeia, 

 bajri, beans, and the Arachis Hypogcea. The latter is 

 called by the Arabs Sumbul el Sibal, or " Monkey's 

 Spikenard on the coast, Njugu ya Nyassa ; in Unyam- 

 wezi, Karanga or K'haranga, and further west, Ma- 

 yowwa or Mwanza. It is the Bhuiphali, or " earth- 

 fruit 7 ' of India, and the Bik'han of Maharatta land, 

 where it is used by cheap confectioners in the place of 

 almonds, whose taste it simulates. Our older Cape tra- 

 vellers term it the pig-nut. The plant extends itself 

 along the surface of the ground, and puts forth its fruit 

 at intervals below. It is sown before the rains, and 

 ripens after six months, — in the interior about June. 

 The Arabs fry it with cream that has been slightly 

 salted, and employ it in a variety of rich dishes ; it 

 affords them also a favourite oil. The Africans use it 

 principally on journeys. The price greatly varies ac- 

 cording to the abundance of the article ; when moderate, 

 about two pounds may be purchased for a " khete " of 

 coral beads. 



The Wasagara of Eumuma are short, black, beard- 

 less men. They wear their hair combed off the fore- 

 head, and twisted into a fringe of little pig-tails, which 

 extend to the nape of the neck. Few boast of cloth, 



