CHAPTER VI. 
LIFE AT RIBE. 
IN the present chapter we propose giving some 
idea of the kind of Hfe a missionary must lead in 
a place like Ribe. Ribe, as will have been learned 
from what has been said already, is one of the many 
districts into which Unika is divided. It is not one 
of the largest of them, nor is it one of the most 
thickly-populated portions of this thinly-peopled 
land ; and it is not therefore, so far, a very eligible 
field for missionary work. The tribe, however, has 
been in the past a very important one, distinguished 
for its superior wisdom in council, and its prowess in 
war ; at least so the people themselves say, and it 
is allowed to them on all hands. A little of the 
prestige arising out of these circumstances remains 
to them yet. Then the position of the tribe is a 
central one. It possesses the advantage, too, of being 
within easy reach of Mombasa, half of the distance 
being accomplished by boat, up to the creek already 
described. Moreover the people, though they have 
other objectionable traits, are unusually good-na- 
tured, hearty, and hospitable. They appear to have 
received Dr. Krapf with open arms» and to have 
