Chap. XLIII. AFFINITY OF THE MU'SGU. 
179 
Amongst the various divisions of the K6toko, Ngala 
and K16sem seem to be most nearly related to the 
Miisgu. 
However insignificant the tribe of the Miisgu may 
appear in the eyes of the European, the dialects of 
the various communities into which it is split, owing 
to the hostile manner in which they are opposed 
to one another, and their entire want of friendly 
intercourse, differ so much that, as I was assured, 
the people of Liiggoy have great difficulty in under- 
standing those of Wiiliya and Demmo. Unfortunately, 
I had no opportunity of collecting specimens of the 
other dialects besides that spoken by the people of 
Liiggoy. Their principal " safi," or fetish, consists in 
a long spear-like pole, similar to that of the Marghi ; 
but nevertheless there seems to be a considerable dif- 
ference in their superstitious worship, for, while with 
the Marghi the pole appears to be rather a symbol 
than an image of the deity, and the real worship is 
attached to the sacred locality, with the Miisgu tribes 
I did not see a single specimen of a sacred grove. 
The Miisgu call their fetish "kefe." 
In the afternoon I attended some time at the 
vizier's, and here made the acquaintance of an in- 
teresting and adventurous old man of the name of 
Mallem Jemme, or Jymma, who took the principal 
part in the conversation. The history of this 
man is highly characteristic, as showing what a 
large field is open to the ambition of enterprising 
Mohammedans in the pagan states to the south. 
N 2 
