CH. VII 
THE SWAHILI AND THE SOMALI 
67 
high order. The majority of Swahilis wash pretty 
thoroughly every day, and are also particular as to 
their clothes ; neither do they smear themselves, to 
any extent, with unsavoury unguents. As a conse¬ 
quence they are devoid of the noisome odour which 
everyone except the missionaries associates with the 
up-country native. Secondly, they are comparatively 
honest as a class, though of course there are excep¬ 
tions. Perhaps I have been lucky, but I have found 
that if one hands over money to a Swahili for his safe 
keeping, one may look forward to the result with 
equanimity. Usually speaking, they have no 
exaggerated idea of the honesty of their fellows, more 
especially of Somalis. A Swahili who has been with 
me some five years is accustomed whenever he finds 
that I have left valuables lying about, to conceal the 
same in some most cunning hiding-place. Thus any 
rupee notes discovered will be stowed for safety in the 
interior of a boot, while a watch he holds it safest, if 
there are any suspicious characters about, to conceal 
within a sock or stocking which in its turn is thrust 
into the inner recesses of a pillow. Thirdly, the 
Swahili is clever, and picks up English ways, virtues, 
and vices with great success. He is most observant, 
and learns such things as waiting at table, cleaning 
pistols and guns of new pattern, bicycles, or any 
mechanism with the utmost despatch. Don’t think 
because your Swahili only addresses you in his own 
tongue or responds to that language, that it necessarily 
follows that he has no knowledge of English. Many 
such understand every word you say. 
Finally he is generally cheerful, which is, perhaps, 
the best trait of all. He will always see the comic 
side of anything—even of his own misfortunes, though 
f 2 
