Wanika, 
93 
imba. We give the Kisuahili form of these names for 
the sake of uniformity. 
They are altogether without history, and tradition 
is almost mute. It is probable that they have not 
occupied their present territories for more than a 
couple of centuries. They have the vaguest of 
notions as to their origin and history. The Wa- 
rabai believe that they came from the regions about 
Kilima Njaro. The Wageriama and Waribe declare 
that they came from the mount Mangea, between 
the Mangudo, or Uvui, and the river Sabaki. It is 
not probable that the tribes have each a separate 
origin ; their unquestionable homogeneity goes to dis- 
prove this; and it is most likely that the original home 
of the whole of the Wanika was the region about 
Mangea. In those days they and the Wapokomo, 
who now dwell on the banks of the Tana, were possibly 
one people. They were probably ousted and broken 
up by the Gallas, when that people came down from the 
north. Part of them fled and took up their home in 
the " Nika," and so become what they are. The 
others fled north, became subject to the Gallas, and 
took up their quarters where they now dwell. It is 
wonderful that the Wanika and Wapokomo, though 
they must have been separated for many generations, 
resemble each other in almost every particular. 
The Wanika are not negroes in the ordinary accep- 
tation of that term. There are those among them 
who approach very nearly the negro type, and there 
are individuals who are thoroughly so ; but the people, 
taken as a whole, are certainly not part of that much- 
abused family. The sugar-loaf skull, low, retreating 
forehead, flat, spreading noses, thick lips, prognathous 
