io6 Wanderings in Eastern Africa, 
of religion among such a people as the Wanika. If 
they have any religion at all, it is associated with 
Uganga. Captain Speke says that Uganga is the 
church, and that the Mganga is the priest of Africa. 
There is something in this. The Mganga is prophet, 
priest, and doctor all in one. The Wanika pretend 
to believe that the science of Uganga is all powerful, 
but it is doubtful if they themselves do not see its 
hollowness. Some of them do not hesitate to express 
their disbelief in it, despite a superstitious fear which 
creeps over them at the same time that there may after 
all be some truth in it. The Wanika believe in the 
power and efficacy of charms and amulets, and they 
wear them in great variety ; legs, arms, neck, waist, 
hair, and every part of the body are laden with them, 
either for the cure or prevention of disease ; for the 
expulsion or repulsion of evil spirits ; and to keep at 
bay snakes, wild animals, and every other evil. They 
hang painted calabashes from the Baobab at their 
hut doors to keep away thieves ; shells, doUs,^ eggs 
scratched over with Arabic characters by the ^' Wana 
Chuoni " (sons of the book) of the coast, are placed 
about their plantations and in their fruit trees, and 
:hey believe that death would overtake a thief who 
should disregard them. A charm bound to the leg of 
a fowl is ample protection for the village. There is no 
doubt that, superstitious as the people are, they dread 
running great risks for the sake of small gains, and 
so these charms answer their purpose. Of religion 
beyond this they have none. 
Government among the Wanika is an exceedingly 
loose and an almost powerless institution. It is 
founded upon the principle of State Independency," 
