THE EAST AFEICAN CAEAVAK 



341 



It is impossible to average the numbers of an East 

 African caravan, which varies from half a dozen to 200 

 porters, under a single Mundewa or merchant. In 

 dangerous places travellers halt till they form an 

 imposing force; 500 is a frequent figure, and even 

 bodies of 1000 men are not rare. The only limit to 

 the gathering is the incapability of the country to fill 

 more than a certain number of mouths. The larger 

 caravans, however, are slow and cumbrous, and in places 

 they exhaust the provision of water. 



Caravans in East Africa are of three kinds. The 

 most novel and characteristic are those composed only 

 of Wanyamwezi; secondly, are the caravans directed 

 and escorted by Wasawahili freemen or fundi (slave 

 fattori), commissioned by their patrons ; and, lastly, 

 those commanded by Arabs. 



The porter, called pagazi or fagazi — the former is 

 the African, the latter the ridiculous Arabised form of 

 the word — corresponds with the carregador of West 

 Africa. The Wanyamwezi make up large parties of 

 men, some carrying their own goods, others hired by 

 petty proprietors, who for union and strength elect a 

 head Mtongi, Ras Kafilah, or leader. The average 

 number of these parties that annually visit the coast is 

 far greater than those commanded by stranger-mer- 

 chants. In the Unyamwezi caravan there is no deser- 

 tion, no discontent, and, except in certain spots, little 

 delay. The porters trudge from sunrise to 10 or 1 1 a.m., 

 and sometimes, though rarely, they will travel twice a 

 day, resting only during the hours of heat. They work 

 with a will, carrying uncomplainingly huge tusks, some 

 so heavy that they must be lashed to a pole between 

 two men — a contrivance technically called mziga-ziga. 

 Their shoulders are often raw with the weight, their 



