Wanika. 
99 
utmost horror, and produce upon their minds the im- 
pression that we are far greater savages than they. 
Suicide is never heard of. Life is too easy, and too 
much valued by these simple people, to admit of self- 
murder. 
But they have minor faults. A leading feature of 
the Wanika is the indolence of the men. A young 
man will work till he gets a wife or two, but thence- 
forward he thinks himself above toil, and he gives 
himself up to roaming from hut to hut, attending ma- 
neno (palavers), toddy-drinkings, feasting (when he 
can),>and sleep. His requirements small, he is content 
to live upon what the labours of the women procure foi 
him, and seldom or never condescends to lend them a 
helping hand. The women work hard ; they are the 
veriest slaves of the men. From sunrise till sundown 
they are engaged in one way or another, and their life 
is one unceasing piece of drudgery. The consequence 
is that in muscular development they often exceed 
the men ; and their hands are not only hard, but 
horny with their incessant toil. 
Allied to their laziness is their mendicity ; all the 
Wanika are great beggars. Like children, they covet 
all they see, and they never lose anything for the 
want of asking for it. Nothing can exceed their im- 
portunity. Undaunted by the most positive refusals, 
they press their suit till they excite your anger, and 
then coolly ejaculating, " Muchoyo we" (you niggard), 
they retire with disgust. They see nothing undignified 
in begging. Stealing they admit is wrong, but " ku 
voya" (to beg) they consider highly proper. 
Their method of begging is sometimes most uncouth. 
Thus : " I say, white man, give me so-and-so. You 
