THEIR WOMEN. 
43 
upon it with the utmost rapidity, and bore off the 
whole from our Zanzibar men, who were left in vacant 
amazement without redress. On killing a goat, I ob- 
served they never spilt a drop of blood, but smashed 
its head with a stick or stone. Out shooting they 
were invaluable as guides, first-rate spoorers, and 
never at a loss for anything : a pipe would be made 
by putting a grit of clay an inch or so into the end of 
a tube of bark. "Duncans smoking mixture" they 
preferred stuffing as far as possible up their noses. 
When an animal was shot they always stole the fat. 
They had extraordinary knowledge of edible roots 
and herbs, and under almost any circumstances would 
not starve. They had no particular superstitions or 
sacred days, either in the week or year. They were 
intelligent and amusing enough, but had no claim to 
honour or honesty — 113 of them, although handsomely 
paid, deserted us, carrying away a considerable quan- 
tity of property. Perhaps they treated us in this way 
in consequence of having been badly paid by Arab 
traders on former occasions. 
A few of their women accompanied us : quiet, 
decent, well-conducted, tidy creatures, generally carry- 
ing a child each on their backs, a small stool and et 
ceteras on their heads, and inveterately smoking during 
the march. They would prepare some savoury dish of 
herbs for their men on getting into camp, where they 
lived in bell-shaped erections made with boughs of 
trees. 
