70 Wanderings in Eastern Africa, 
the pastoral races, the G.allas and Masai, are, however, 
totally different in their character, these being cast in 
an Asiatic rather than in an African mould. The 
Kisuahili cannot be said to be a written language as 
yet, though the Arabs have applied their characters to 
it, and the Wasuahili have acquired the ability to write 
each other crude notes. A collection of Kisuahili 
stories has lately been published by Dr. Steer, of the 
Central African Mission, but this is about all the 
literature the language can boast. Dr. Krapf 's philo- 
logical labours cannot be too highly prized. His 
grammar of the Kisuahili, his vocabularies of several 
dialects, his various translations, and his voluminous 
dictionary of the Kisuahili, — ^the latter we regret to say 
not yet published, — are marvels of industry and lin- 
guistic ability. Dr. Steer has done excellent service 
in the cause of East African philology by popularizing 
and making serviceable what would otherwise have 
been beyond the reach of most. 
The Wasuahili have been estimated at half a million. 
Of course it is impossible to speak with accuracy upon 
this subject, but the above is probably near the mark. 
This is not a vast number, but these people have a 
most important part to perform in the civilization of 
East Africa. However, before they can be of any 
service, they require to be civilized themselves, and 
the civilization they require is that which Christianity 
alone can impart. While they remain Muhammadans, 
there is little hope for them. They want a new life 
within them, and without this they will go down. 
Christian missions for the Wasuahili is the great 
desiderati0n^ if the welfare of East Africa be desired. 
