45 2 Wafiderings in Eastern Africa, 
stones, were not found in their country. The natives 
are very fond of these beads, and prize them highly. 
They were probably introduced into the country in 
former times by either Arab or Portuguese traders. As 
to the auriferous treasures of the mountain, the natives 
averred that gold had often been found; and Kapitau, 
a Kisuahili mkugenzi, who knows Chaga as well as 
any one, was prepared to swear upon the Koran that 
he held seen large masses of gold in the possession of 
Mamkinga, the former chief of Machame, and that 
they were now held by that chiefs son and successor, 
Deseroa. We do not believe in these things, though 
we are not prepared to deny them ; they are quite 
possible. It remains, therefore, for future visitors to 
Kilioia Njaro to inquire into these matters further. 
What if Kilima Njaro should be found to be as rich 
in diamonds and gold as the newly-discovered fields 
of South Africa ! It is in the same country, 
Chaga is the inhabited portion of Kilima Njaro's 
base, stretching from east to west over its southern 
slope The northern side of the mountain does not 
appear to be inhabited, though it is probable that the 
country there will be quite as fine, and the land 
equally fertile, as on this side. The name Chaga is 
undoubtedly derived from an obsolete verb ku 
aga, ' meaning like the modern ^' ku potea,'' to stray, 
to ge!: lost. The explanation given by the Wasuahili 
is, ti l at it was formerly regarded by the coast people 
as extremely dangerous to go to Chaga; that indeed 
it w<jts like throwing yourselves away, and the under- 
taking excited the common exclamation regarding 
those concerned, " You are going ku cha aga," you 
are going to be lost ; and in the course of time the 
