6o Wanderings in Eastern Africa, 
style to this. Visuto, square coloured cloths, and 
kaniki, indigo-dyed stuffs, are common articles of 
dress ; but lesu, large coloured cotton handkerchiefs, 
are much affected. Six of the latter, cut into two 
parts of three each, are sewn together so as to make 
one square cloth, and the dress is complete. This is 
drawn round the body under the arms, and is secured 
by gathering the ends together and rolling them into 
a ball at the chest. A similar article is worn over 
the shoulders, or is hung from the head like a veil. In 
some places the ukaya is preferred. This is, gen- 
erally speaking, a long piece of blue calico or gauze, 
fastened over the forehead by a piece of cord round 
the chin, and falling over the head down the back. 
Dressed in this style, particularly when the material 
is new and the colours are bright, the Msuahili 
woman is in her glory, and appears to admire herself 
prodigiously. 
In further decoration of her person her head is 
dressed in the most fantastic fashion. Sometimes the 
wool, parted in the centre, is gathered together and 
set up in two large heaps, one on either side of the 
head. But as a rule a large number of partings are 
preferred, extending from the forehead over to the 
nape of the neck. This is done by dividing the locks 
into as many parts as may be desired, and then 
plaiting them tightly down to the head, finishing 
off the ends into what may be designated small rats' 
tails. Sometimes these plaits are divided into several 
series, the partings running in different directions, 
now reminding one of the divisions in a melon, now 
a furrowed field, and now the stripes of the zebra. 
Sometimes the whole woolly crop is shaved off, and 
