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fairly extensive in the rainy season, as there was now a good deal
of water in it. We went on a bit further trying to find a Wanika
village that we had been told was situated about here, but
were unsuccessful, and as it was getting dark, we made our
way back to the lake, and camped by it for the night. I
arranged my men into watches, putting an advanced outpost
forward on the path, and took it in turns with Ramazan and
the Nakoa to visit it during the night, which however passed
away undisturbed.
I thought at first of waiting here for the caravan, but on
reflection I concluded that it was too close to Mombrui, for so
many Wanika passed up and down that the report would soon
have spread that I was blocking the road. There were many
native villages scattered about, but they all lay closer to the
Sabaki, and after leaving the Wanika clearings near Magarini,
I did not pass any village or signs of cultivation until I got
close to the river. After leaving the lake the path continued
through fine forest country, with large open glades of good
grass. .
The appearance of the country improved greatly as I
advanced, and I now came upon several clearings, whilst many
cross-roads showed that villages were becoming numerous,
One of the Wakamba whom I met told me that there was
another small lake a little way off the path. ' After a while, I
came upon a large Wakamba village, called Singwaia, well
protécted by a strong palisade, and situated close to the
Sabaki, which here made a sweeping curve, and with its dark
green fringe of forest made a charming picture. From some
rising ground I could see that the country for a considerable
distance was open and flat, so I decided to halt here, placing
sentries ahead and beyond the village, and pitching my camp
inside the forest, so as not to be seen. I remained here, keeping
a sharp look-out, from the 17th to the 21st of October. I
was close to the Wakamba village of Singwaia, and a short
description of this tribe may be given here.
The Wakamba tribe inhabit the north bank of the Sabaki,
their chief village being Singwaia, where their principal headman,
by name Kalamo, resides. The Wakamba are a branch
of the Wanika group, though their language is dissimilar.
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