102 Wanderings in Eastern Africa, 
a call upon a friend empty-handed, nor are they 
allowed to depart without a blessing. A fowl, a 
basket of grain, or, if nothing better can be afforded, 
a pot of water will be taken, " ka lamusa,'^ to make a 
complimentary call upon a friend, and upon depart- 
ure the "ku fugula" (to set free) ceremony is never 
forgotten ; presents equal to the individuals means 
are always made. The Wanika are hospitably in- 
clined to strangers. They make you welcome to their 
best. They give you the best lodgings they have, 
place before you the best of their provisions ; the best 
mat, or skin, or stool is brought out for your accom- 
modation, and upon your departure they load you 
with a present of grain, fowls, a goat, or an ox, as 
food for you by the way; and carry their politeness so 
far as to accompany you sometimes for a long dis- 
tance on the road. 
It will be readily understood that the religious 
ideas of the Wanika are of the crudest kind. They 
are pure heathen. It is a remarkable fact that though 
they have been associating with the Muhammadans 
of the coast for centuries, Islamism has made scarcely 
any impression upon them. A few Wadigo and 
Waduruma have partially adopted the Kisuahiii 
dress, and proudly call themselves Islam. Now and 
then a man quarrels with his friend or tribes folk, 
goes to the coast, and asks to be admitted to the 
company of the faithful, but the great body of the 
people remain untouched and unaffected by Muham- 
madanism. 
Their notions of the Supreme Being are very vague, 
though the idea of a God is not lost to them. Yet it 
is a singular fact that they have no other name for 
