matters, and wishing to. travel by the Wanika road so as to
see that part of the country, I sent for some of these people
to show me the way. A t first they refused altogether, but
after a long and troublesome “ shauri ” (as they call a conference)
they at last consented to come and carry my things
for a payment of three annas a day and “ posho ” (food
allowance) for each man there and back.
Next morning I set out for Melindi with four Wanika
carrying my loads ; my interpreter, a cook, and two : boys,
passing through the two Wanika villages on the way.
M’Doro and the other head-man came out to apologize for
not having sent the people to work, and again promised to
send them, só I hoped it would be all right now. After
leaving the villages we followed a steep narrow path down
the hill, which gradually sloped away into the plain.
Reaching the level, I crossed a large, flat, .grass field, the
path being slippery and sticky, from the swampy character of
the land, which I was told was all under water in thè. wet
season. We then ascended an undulating piece of ground
with short grass, and clumps of bush, . descending on the
opposite side into another flat grass swamp. In: fact the
country showed alternations of partly dried swamps,, with
rising ground presenting a park-like appearance, and covered
with short grass and clumps of bush. The soil was everywhere
black and . good, and in the swamps was invariably
black sticky clay. :
In passing through Some thickish bush, I noticed for the
first time hippopotamus tracks. Just beyond, we entered à
Wanika village, protected by a strong palisade of posts ; the
village (Swahili, “ M d i”) was called Makungo Wazim, and
the head-man, Mahawa, told me that I was the second white
man who had passed that way. I bought three wild duck
from him for eight annas, and was told they abounded in the
neighbouring river, and that the people snared them. They
also offered me a heron for sale, which I . declined. On the
other side of this village flows the river Jorori, a small stream
which winds through flat, swampy grass-land. It dries up
during the hot weather, but just now, owing to the rains, was
pretty full. I had to cross it twice ; the first time the passage'