THE WANYAMBO OR KARAGUE PEASANTRY. 177 
odour. The Wakungu, or district governors, possess 
probably one sheet of calico, or a scarlet blanket, in 
excess of the skins usually worn by the people. The 
men about Urigi seemed a depressed race, and though 
superior in position (being cultivators of the soil) to 
the Watusi, who tend cattle, they surprised me by 
their appearance of misery; this, however, may have 
been assumed. They have the sultan's orders to furnish 
all travellers with sufficient provision for themselves 
and followers free of charge ; and in return for this a 
present is generally given of some coils of brass wire. 
Some of our Wanyambo porters showed spirit on the 
march by refusing to be led by an Unyamuezi. On 
this occasion it was alarming to see the fellows using" 
their spears and arrows at one another; the whole 
caravan joined in the fray, which became a party 
one, and had to be settled by our men threatening 
to shoot them : one cut finger was the only casu- 
alty. Again, if a Seedee or two wandered away from 
camp amongst the Wanyambo, they were in some 
danger, for this tribe were so drunken and excitable 
that several instances of their boisterous nature proved 
serious to our men when out purchasing provisions. 
About the palace, however, they were very civil, con- 
stantly advising me as to my health, telling me to 
keep my weak limb shut up from the air, to eat 
plenty of meat, &c. They never carried arms when 
near the palace, neither did our men, which was differ- 
ent to our practice in the badly-governed district of 
Usui, where no one dare go about unarmed. The only 
weapon was a five-feet-long knobstick, generally car- 
ried across the shoulder ; and in wishing good morn- 
ing to a comrade the end of the stick was presented 
M 
