CHAPTER VII 
THE SWAHILI AND THE SOMALI 
Though not forming numerically any very con¬ 
siderable feature of the Highlands, these two races 
have managed to impress themselves very markedly 
thereon. The Swahili owes this impression to his 
language, which is the universal medium of conversa¬ 
tion with the natives of the Protectorate, the Somali 
to his own dominant and acquisitive personality. 
The genuine Swahili is the product of a cross 
between the Arab and the coast native, and should 
probably have a distinct trace of Arab ancestry in his 
features and complexion. Less correctly, any native 
who lives in or round Mombasa calls himself and is 
called a Swahili ; while up country any native who 
has the language and has been in European employ, 
makes haste to lay claim to the title. This is so 
naturally, since Swahilis ask for and obtain a higher 
rate of wages than other natives. 
I cannot claim to be wrapped up in any of the 
coloured races of the Protectorate, but of all such the 
genuine inhabitants of Mombasa and its neighbour¬ 
hood are without doubt the best, and have often much 
to commend them. To take their virtues ; they are 
firstly most distinctly clean, which is a virtue of a very 
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