42 
TRIBES OF THE TANA VALLEY 
and a thickness of half an inch), and took another and 
held it like this, and cut a hole like this and put a bit of 
rag (kitani) beside it like this, and twisted it like this (till 
he had kindled a fire). He then took a pot, filled it with wateiv 
and set it on the stones (dzikoni) ; (when the fish was done) 
he took it out (kevura) and said to Vere, “ Come, let us eat.” 
When they had finished eating, rice appeared, and it was 
in the husk. Vere carried it to Mitsotsozini, who took up 
a little in his hand ( ku mega), put it into his mouth and 
said, “ People do not eat it like this.” Vere asked, “ How do 
they eat, then ? ” So Mitsotsozini went to cut down a tree 
and made a mortar and pestle for pounding ; then he took the 
pestle and pounded.’ 
Here Mpongwa broke off somewhat abruptly, only adding 
‘ Vere got a wife from Malikakombo.’ 
(Malikakombo was explained as being ‘ near the Ozi,’ 
though another informant said it was near (the northern) 
Kilifi.) 
Naturally one wanted to know a little more about 
Mitsotsozini, but Mpongwa either could not or would not tell 
any more, and the above (considering that he had dictated 
another story immediately before) is by no means a discredit- 
able achievement for an old gentleman not invariably sober. 
(I found it a profitable practice to haunt the duka at Ngao 
during the early part of the forenoon, when customers and 
others would drop in for a gossip, but had not yet had 
time — if so inclined — to look very deep into the mochi 
gourd.) 
But, after various inquiries, I one day received an answer — 
given in the most matter-of-fact manner — which took my 
breath away ; Mitsotsozini was a Musanye ! Not only so, 
but he was the ancestor of the Katsae clan ; and if I wanted 
any further information, Mataguda, of that clan, was the 
man to give it me. I may remark at once that Mataguda 
proved a disappointment, and I was never able to carry out a 
cherished plan of tracing the Katsae back to Mitsotsozini, 
as Mpongwa had traced his clan (the Karya) back to 
Vere. 
