162 JUMAH'S STORIES ABOUT KILIMANJARO. 
being distinct languages; but be insisted tbat eacb was 
as different from tbe other as Baniani is to Hindoo. 
He was of East Indian origin, tbougb be could not 
speak its language, and bad acquired all tbe super- 
stitious notions of tbe Seedee. However, during my 
illness be paid me constant visits, afforded me a great 
deal of amusement, and was a kind, hospitable man. 
He told strange tales about tbe snow-capped mountain 
Kilimanjaro, whicb bas since been ascended by my 
friend tbe Baron von der Decken, gold-medallist (witb 
myself) of tbe Royal Geographical Society for 1864. 
When encamped at Chaga, Jumah could see it change 
colour "five times during tbe day. First it was 
white in the early morning, then changed into black, 
green, brown, and, lastly, scarlet, like a red blan- 
ket. He thought the colours were not reflections 
from snow — the sun was too hot for any to lie 
there — they were stones ! and he picked up several 
carnelian-coloured pebbles at its base. He and all 
Arabs firmly believe that the mountain can never 
be ascended by either black or white man. Though 
gold is there in abundance, no one dare dig for it — a 
demon has possession ! Even Speke could not go up 
it, unless the devil should take fright at the face of a 
white man ! He mustered courage one day, and de- 
termined to try the ascent, but he was struck with a 
huge swelling in both limbs, which disappeared as 
suddenly as it came. Was not this a caution ? and 
did it not show that it was possessed V J umah was 
full of these tales, and of his brave fights with super- 
natural characters. Of Uganda he gave me a great 
deal of accurate information, describing tbe numbers 
of people who are daily killed there by order of the 
