68 Wanderings m Eastern Africa. 
of their fellow- wives, with no occupation but to gossip, 
wrangle, and fight. Theirs is indeed a terrible fate, 
though they may not feel it. We talk of women's 
rights in England ; let the women of England think of 
their sisters' wrongs in Africa, and they would better 
appreciate their own privileges. 
The transition from marriage to funerals may not 
be pleasant, but it is a very common one, so common, 
as to become an almost natural one The Wasuahili 
doubtless feel the death of their relatives, as other 
mortals do, but like most Orientals they are very 
demonstrative. Matanga (mourning) is held from five 
to ten days' duration. Loud lamentations are heard 
at intervals during the whole of the time, a great deal 
of it, we fear, being artificial, got up for the occasion. 
Feasting, music, and dancing are at the same time 
carried on, in order to prevent over-much sorrow. The 
matanga " over, all signs of mourning disappear, the 
departed is forgotten, and life goes on as before. 
The Wasuahili have but little knowledge of medicine, 
and they resort instead to charms. Pieces of paper, 
containing passages from the Koran, carefully wrapped 
up in bits of cotton, sewn into pads, and worn round 
^he neck, are considered very potent, and are trusted 
in for the cure of all sorts of maladies. Many diseases 
are attributed to Pepo (evil spirits), which are supposed 
to take possession of the human system, and to eff"ect 
a cure the spirit must be expelled. The Mganga is 
called in to do this. Elaborate ceremonies are per- 
formed, consisting chiefly of drumming, singing, and 
dancing, by which a high degree of animal excitement 
is created, and eventually it is discovered that the 
patient is cured. Cases such as the following often 
