I have always been very keenly interested in
the different native races of Africa, and
consequently availed myself of every opportunity
of studying their manners and customs. I had
little scope for this at Tsavo, however, as the
district around us was practically uninhabited.
Still there was of course a good number of
Swahili among my workmen, together with a few
Wa Kamba, Wa N'yam Wezi, and others, so I
soon became more or less acquainted with the
habits of these tribes. The Swahili live principally
along the coast of British East Africa and at
Zanzibar. They are a mixed race, being the
descendants of Arab fathers and negro mothers.
Their name is derived from the Arabic word
suahil, coast; but it has also been said, by some
who have found them scarcely so guileless as
might have been expected, to be really a corruption
of the words sawa hili, that is, "those who
cheat all alike." However that may be, the men
are as a rule of splendid physique and well
qualified for the calling that the majority of
them follow, that of caravan porters. They are
a careless, light-hearted, improvident people, and
are very fond of all the good things of this
world, enjoying them thoroughly whenever they
get the chance. Their life is spent in journeying
to and from the interior, carrying heavy loads of
provisions and trade-goods on the one journey,
and returning with similar loads of ivory or
other products of the country.
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