TRIBES OP THE TANA VALLEY 
41 
he never saw it again. Another time, there was caused to 
descend for him cold water, very good, sweet as sugar. He 
remained for two years, and at the end of that time he saw a 
nswi fish on the Watsa (the sand-banks along the margin of the 
Tana, which are sometimes under water, sometimes exposed), 
and thought, “ I have no fire. What shall I do with it ? ” 
He saw a chalikoko (fish-eagle) eating (a similar fish) with 
its beak, and said to himself, “ This thing is food after 
all.” Next time he saw a nswi he ate it, like the chalikoko , 
just raw as it was. (All this time) he remained alone — he 
saw no man. After a European year , 1 * * * he saw a fire burning on 
the plains (yuandani), and thought “ Who can it be who has 
lit a fire ? ” He went on to Matsanzuni, till he reached Old 
Buu. Then he wandered on in the same way till he came to 
Ngambwa ; and then went on again over the plains and came 
to a place called Kombeni, where there appeared to him 
his companion (mwenziwe): his name was Mitsotsozini. (Vere) 
called to him : “ Sir, where do you come from ? I have been 
walking here ; where should I see a man ? ” Mitsotsozini 
answered, “ Since I set out I have not seen a man, and this 
is the fifth year since I have met any.” Vere said to him, 
“ Very well, come — let us go to my place,” and they did so. 
Vere then went and took out his fish- trap (mono) and killed 
one myumi (a large fish with spines on its back, which groans 
when caught : Mpongwa illustrated this very dramatically) 
and one nswi , and brought them to his friend, saying, “ Come 
out and let us eat this nswi.” Mitsotsozini came out and 
asked, “ Is this fish raw ? ” Vere answered, “ I eat it raw 
just like this.” Mitsotsozini said, “ No, let us light a fire.” 
“ Where shall we get fire ? I know no news of fire — if you 
know, come and show me.” (It does not appear that Vere 
was unacquainted with the use of fire — only with the means 
of producing it.) Mitsotsozini went and chopped up a tree 
and cut a stick of this size (indicating a length of about a foot 
1 Mwaka wa kizungu. The Pokomo ‘ year 5 is six months : a rainy and a dry 
season ; hence the two years mentioned a little further back are to be taken 
as equivalent to one European year. The Pokomo, unlike most other Bantu 
(but like the Wasanye), do not reckon by months, only by seasons. 
