1 1 6 Wanderings in Eastern Africa. 
making small iron chains, iron and brass beads, bows 
and arrows, and other nick-nacks not worth mention- 
ing. The older men are fond of whiling away their 
time by plaiting good strong mats of milala " (the 
fan-palm leaf). They also make useful bags and 
baskets of the same material. 
The recreations and pastimes of the Wanika are 
numerous. Every fourth day is a day of rest. Even 
the women can claim exemption from the harder kind 
of toil, such as that of the plantation, on that day, 
though their household duties, heavy enough in 
themselves, always remain to them. Several great 
festivals are held in the course - of the year. The 
Wanika have their " muaka " (new year,) harvest, 
and other celebrations ; and each class of society — 
the mvaya," the kambi,'' the achi," (women), 
and the aniere (young folk) — has its own peculiar 
ceremonies. Every great event, too, is made the 
occasion of a festival, so also are many minor and 
very common ones. Even sorrowful events are 
turned into seasons of mirth, for these people do 
not believe in nursing sorrow. Their motto is, " Let 
us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die." 
They treat life as if it were a great joke. The 
modes in which they conduct their festivities are 
various, and they have many kinds of dances, all 
distinguished by different names. Some are de- 
scribable, others are not. Kimombui," is a 
favourite dance with the young people, in which both 
sexes join. Those engaged in it form a circle, one 
of the party being sent into the centre. All in 
place, some one begins a recitation at the top of his 
voice, and this is followed by a chorus in which all 
