THE WAGOGO. 



303 



was and must be the Deity. Moreover, after corning to 

 this satisfactory conclusion, they resolved that, being 

 the Deity, he could improve their country by heavy 

 rains; and when he protested against both these reso- 

 lutions, they proposed to put him to death. A succession 

 of opportune showers, however, released him. By degrees 

 the ever-increasing insolence and violence of the Warori 

 drove travellers to this northern line, and the Wagogo 

 learned to see strangers without displaying this Lybian 

 mania for sacrificing them. 



Three main roads, leading from Western Usagara 

 westward, cross the Desert of Marenga Mk'hali. The 

 most northern is called Ya Nyika — of the wilderness — 

 a misnomer, if the assertion of the guides be correct that 

 it is well watered, and peopled by the subjects of eight 

 sultans. The central line, described in the preceding 

 pages, is called, from its middle station, Marenga 

 Mk'hali : it is invariably preferred when water is scarce. 

 The southern road is termed Nya Ngaha, a continuation 

 of the Kiringwana route, previously alluded to : it has 

 provisions, but the people cause much trouble. 



The superiority of climate, and probably the absence 

 of that luxuriant vegetation which distinguishes the 

 eastern region, have proved favourable to the physical 

 development of the races living in and about Ugogo. 

 The Wagogo, and their northern neighbours the Wa- 

 humba, are at once distinguishable from the wretched 

 population of the alluvial valleys, and of the mountains 

 of Usagara: though living in lower altitudes, they are a 

 fairer race — and therefore show better blood — than the 

 Wanyamwezi. These two tribes, whose distinctness 

 is established by difference of dialect, will be described 

 in order. 



The Wagogo extend from the landward base of Usa- 



