CHAPTER V.

U-N-YA-MUÉZI.

The Country and People of U-n-ya-mñézi.-Kazé, the Capital.-Old Músa.—The naked Wakidi.-The N'yanza, and the Question of the River running in or out. -The Contest between Mohinna and "Short-legs."-Famine.-The Arabs and Local Wars.-The Sultana of Unyambéwa.-Ungurué "the Pig."-Pillage.

U-N-YA-MUÉZI-Country of the Moon-must have been one of the largest kingdoms of Africa. It is little inferior in size to England, and of much the same shape, though now, instead of being united, it is cut up into petty states. In its northern extremities it is known by the appellation U-sukuma-country north; and

in the southern, U-takama-country south. There are no historical traditions known to the people; neither was any thing ever written concerning their country, as far as we know, until the Hindus, who traded with the east coast of Africa, opened commercial dealings with its people in slaves and ivory, possibly some time prior to the birth of our Savior, when, associated with their name, Men of the Moon, sprang into existence the Mountains of the Moon. These Men of the Moon are hereditarily the greatest

traders in Africa, and are the only people who, for love of barter and change, will leave their own country as porters and go to the coast, and they do so with as much zest as our country-folk go to a fair. As far back as we can trace they have done this, and they still do it as heretofore. The whole of their country ranges from 3000 to 4000 feet above the sea-level-a high plateau, studded with little outcropping hills of granite, between which, in the valleys, there are numerous fertilizing springs of fresh water, and rich iron ore is found in sandstone. Generally industrious-much more so than most other negroes-they cultivate extensively, make cloths of cotton in their own looms, smelt iron and work it up very expertly, build tembés to live in over a large portion of their country, but otherwise live in grass huts, and keep flocks and herds of considerable extent.

The Wanyamŭézi, however, are not a very well-favored people in physical appearance, and are much darker than either the Wazaramo or the Wagogo, though many of their men are handsome and their women pretty; neither are they well dressed or well armed, being wanting in pluck and gallantry. Their women, generally, are better dressed than the men. Cloths fastened round under the arms are their national costume, along with a necklace of beads, large brass or copper wire armlets, and a profusion of thin circles, called sambo, made of the giraffe's tail-hairs bound round by the thinnest iron or copper wire; while the men at home wear loin-cloths, but in the field, or while traveling, simply hang a goatskin over their shoulders, exposing at least three fourths of their body in a rather indecorous manner. In all other respects they ornament themselves like the women, only, instead of a long coil of wire wound up the arm, they content themselves with having massive rings of copper or brass on the wrist; and they carry for arms a spear and bow and arrows. All extract more or less their lower incisors, and cut a Ʌ between their two upper incisors. The whole tribe are desperate smokers, and greatly given to drink.

On the 24th, we all, as many as were left of us, marched into the merchants' dépôt, S. lat. 5° 0′ 52", and E. long. 33° 1' 34",* escorted by Musa, who advanced to meet

To Kazé, 24th.

* It may be as well to remark here, that the figures, both in latitude and longitude, representing the position of Kazé, computed by Mr. Dunkin, accord with what appeared in "Blackwood's Magazine," computed by myself, and in the R. G. S. Journal Map, computed by Captain George.

us, and guided us into his tembé, where he begged we would reside with him until we could find men to carry our property on to Karagué. He added that he would accompany us; for he was on the point of going there when my first installment of property arrived, but deferred his intention out of respect to myself. He had been detained at Kazé ever since I last left it in consequence of the Arabs having provoked a war with Manua Séra, to which he was adverse. For a long time also he had been a chained prisoner; as the Arabs, jealous of the favor Manŭa Séra had shown to him in preference to themselves, basely accused him of supplying Manua Séra with gunpowder, and bound him hand and foot "like a slave." It was delightful to see old Musa's face again, and the supremely hospitable, kind, and courteous manner in which he looked after us, constantly bringing in all kind of small delicacies, and seeing that nothing was wanting to make us happy. All the property I had sent on in advance he had stored away; or rather, I should say, as much as had reached him, for the road expenses had eaten a great hole in it.

Once settled down into position, Sheikh Snay and the whole conclave of Arab merchants came to call on me. They said they had an army of four hundred slaves armed with muskets ready to take the field at once to hunt down Manua Séra, who was cut

This applies also to the position of Ujiji; at any rate, the practical differences are so trifling that it would require a microscope to detect them on the map.