Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/125

 U-Kerewé south-east, and the country of U-Gana north-cast, of the great lake. Thus the two kingdoms of Gunda and Kavirondo would appear to be scarcely separated by the region inhabited by the Wu-Soga. Situated nearly towards the middle of the eastern coast according to Ravenstein's map, but to the north-east of the lake following the statement of Thompson, the most recent explorer, Kavirondo, properly so called, is a grassy plain in the centre of which rise several little isolated hills, whilst in the north stands the lofty Mount Manda. Although the country has an abundant rainfall, it is diversified only by a few clumps of trees. Numerous rivers wind through the plain, and one of them, the Mori, appears to flow from the lake, evaporating in a depression below the level of the Nyanza. But this remark- able statement depends exclusively on the report of an Arab dealer, and made on his return from a journey to the interior. The Mori is said to be crossed by a suspension bridge facing the town of Kamrete. The island of U-Kava, not far from the fluvial basin, is said by Felkin and Wilson to be occupied by a race of dwarfs with a mean stature of less than four feet and a-half.

The Wa-Kavirondo are of the Negro type; they are tall and robust, with almost black complexion, flat nose, and thick lips. Judging from their language, as well as their features, they appear to belong to the same stock as the Shilluks of the Middle Nile. In appearance and speech they are quite distinct from the other riverain populations, who are of Bantu origin. The women tattoo their backs and breasts, the men rarely decorating themselves in this fashion. But like so many other African peoples they do not leave the teeth in their natural state, but extract the two middle incisors of the lower jaw. They go naked, or else only wear a waist-cloth, to which the women add a tail_of bark. This portion of their costume, like the plaited tails of other native communities, explains the fables, so long believed by the Arabs, of African tribes forming the connecting link between man and the monkey. Apart from this tail the Kavirondo women have no ornaments, but they daub their bodies with grease. Unlike the Wa-Ganda, the Wa-Kavirondo do not consider themselves dishonoured by work, but take their share with the women in all agricultural operations. They also employ themselves in the chase, in fishing, in breeding domestic birds, in which they are very skilful, and in navigating the Nyanza with sailing boats much more substantial than the canoes of the Wa-Ganda. They are as peaceful as they are industrious; nevertheless they defend themselves courageously against attacks, and the palisades surrounding their dwellings are carefully avoided by the wandering tribes of the interior. The Wa-Kavirondo have a king, who is not master over the lives of his subjects; the country is more of a confederation of republican villages than a feudal realm like U-Ganda. The Wa-Kuri and Wa-Kara, living more to the south on the coastlands bounded by Speke Gulf, resemble the Wa-Kavirondo in language and customs, except that the Wa-Kara clothe themselves in bark, tattoo the breast, and paint the body red and white by means of clay mixed with oil. But amongst the numerous tribes of the eastern slope of the Nyanza, several constitute by their customs, and possibly their origin, isolated ethnical enclaves distinct from the surrounding groups. Such are the Wa-Nanda, inhabiting the upland valleys of the same name