Weichii. 207 
now beyond the reach of the Masai, these people 
never having been known to cross a large river. This 
cannot be so much because they are afraid of water 
as on account of the difficulty of beating a retreat 
with a lot of cattle over such an obstacle. The Gallas 
breathed freely. As to ourselves we could not help 
wondering what was to be done next. This side of 
the river, like the other, was deeply flooded, and so also 
was all the surrounding country. We were standing 
in several feet of water, and there seemed to be no 
dry ground anywhere. What were we to do in such 
a place t After a while we were told that we should 
have to stay here for several days. There were about 
half-a-score of huts, which the WasuahiH called mji 
(town) of Mana Mvoko. The huts are small, l^eing 
only a little larger than those of the Gallas, but much 
more strongly built. They are cone-shaped, and are 
from six to ten feet in diameter at the base. The 
frame is made of strong poles, which are stuck into 
the ground, about eighteen inches apart, and then bent 
over and bound together at the apex upon a central 
post. These poles are further strengthened by a 
system of hoops from top to bottom, the chief use of 
which, however, is the support of the thatch. Thus, 
when complete, the frame looks like a large crinoline. 
This is covered with a very thick thatch of straw, 
perfectly air-tight and waterproof The ordinary 
small hole, just large enough to admit a man bent 
double, is left on one side for the doorway. Doors are 
made in a variety of ways : by tying bunches of 
straw together into the form of a mat ; by rough wicker- 
work frames ; fastening pieces of bark together, etc. 
The floor is necessarily raised above the level of the 
