The Lake Regions of Central Africa: A Picture of Exploration, Vol. 1Burton, Richard Francis, Sir
History
The Lake Regions of Central Africa: A Picture of Exploration, Vol. 1
Burton, Richard Francis, Sir
Africa, Central -- Description and travel
The Wamrima willingly admit strangers into their villages; the Wazaramo
would do the same, but they are constantly at feud with the Wanyamwezi,
who therefore care not to avail themselves of the dangerous hospitality.
In K’hutu caravans seize by force the best lodgings. Throughout Eastern
Usagara travellers pitch tents in the dear central spaces, surrounded by
the round huts of the peasantry, under whose low and drooping eaves the
pagazi find shelter. In the western regions, where the Tembe or square
village prevails, kraals form the nighting-place. In Ugogo strangers
rarely enter the hamlets, the hovels being foul, and the people
dangerous. Throughout Eastern and Central Unyamwezi caravans defile into
the villages without hesitation. Some parties take possession of the
Iwanza or public-house; others build for themselves tabernacles of leafy
boughs, which they are expected to clear away before departure, and the
headman provides lodgings for the Mtongi. In Western Unyamwezi the doors
are often closed against strangers, and in Eastern Uvinza the people
will admit travellers to bivouac, but they will not vacate their huts.
In Western Uvinza, a desert like Marenga and Mgunda Mk’hali, substantial
khambi occur at short intervals. At Ujiji, the Sultan, after offering
the preliminary magubiko or presents, provides his guests with lodgings,
which, after a time sufficient for enabling them to build huts, they
must vacate in favour of new comers. In the other Lake Regions the
reception depends mainly upon the number of muskets in a caravan, and
the character of the headman and his people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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