Chapter II. 
villages, mere groups of huts surrounded by a hedge. They 
belong to the tribe of Kavirondo, which was formerly one of the 
most powerful and one of the wealthiest tribes around the 
Victoria Nyanza. The crowds of men and women come across, 
the level country, carrying on their heads baskets woven with 
great art out of grasses. The young people of both classes go- 
completely naked until marriage ; after marriage they wear a 
scrap of goat-skin over the hips, rather as a symbol of the 
conjugal state than as a garment. They are renowned for 
their modesty and for their morality, which contrasts with the 
dissolute tribes in the neighbourhood, although the latter are 
clothed. The Kavirondo are sober, gentle, peaceable and 
sociable. Sir Harry Johnston regards them as the most moral 
people of Central Africa. 
The native costume is unfortunately doomed to rapid dis¬ 
appearance. Here, as everywhere else, civilization, intolerant 
of all forms, aspects or traditions of life that differ from its 
own, is swiftly introducing that monotonous uniformity which 
tends to turn the whole world into one people. It can scarcely 
be hoped that Kisumu, situated as it is at the terminus of a 
railway, will long preserve its distinctive character. 
Clear indications of a rapid change are already visible. 
Mingling with the naked natives are many partially or even 
wholly clad in garments of white, striped, or gaily printed 
cottons, over which they often wear some hideous European 
garment, such as a waistcoat, a jacket, or a tail coat, 
without the least consciousness of their grotesque and absurd 
appearance. 
The market is held in the open air or under sheds erected on 
purpose. It consists mainly of small traffic in dried fish, sweet 
potatoes, grain and bananas. The buyers stand in groups 
44 
