Bombay
Was Well Feasted On The Road By Kamrasi's People, Receiving Eight
Cows From One And Two Cows From Another.
8th and 9th.
- We had a summons to attend at the Kafu palace with
the medicine-chest, a few select persons only to be present. It
rained so much on the 8th as to stop the visit, but we went next
day. After arriving there, and going through the usual
salutations, Kamrasi asked us from what stock of people we came,
explaining his meaning by saying, "As we, Rumanika, Mtesa, and
the rest of us (enumerating the kings), are Wawitu (or princes),
Uwitu (or the country of princes) being to the east." This
interesting announcement made me quite forget to answer his
question, and induced me to say, "Omwita, indeed, as the ancient
names for Mombas, if you came from that place: I know all about
your race for two thousand years or more. Omwita, you mean, was
the last country you resided in before you came here, but
originally you came from Abyssinia, the sultan of which, our
great friend, is Sahela Selassie."
He pronounced this name laughing, and said, "Formerly our stock
was half-white and half-black, with one side of our heads covered
with straight hair, and the other side frizzly: you certainly do
know everything." The subject then turned upon medicine, and
after inspecting the chest, and inquiring into all its contents,
it ended by his begging for the half of everything. The
mosquito-curtains were again asked for, and refused until I
should leave this.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 674 of 767
Words from 185183 to 185443
of 210958
