Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/438

 864 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. The hippopotamus, which was formerly very common in the rivers, has now withdrawn to the riverain lagoons of the interior. On the plains encircling Mount Kenia, Thomson observed herds of captured camels among some Galla tribes. JJut the Masai people make no use of this animal either for riding or transport puri>osf8, reserving it exclusively for the shambles. The tsetse fly, so fatal to cattle and other domestic animals, infests some of those districts, whilst others are visited by the donderobo, another species of fly, whose sting is deadly to the ass. A large section of tbe seaboard, however, is free from the mosquito scourge. Inhabitants. Throughout the whole of these regions the populations are distributed in much the same way as the vegetable species. Thus the Masai warriors and pastors, like their Galla kinsmen, chiefly roam the herbaceous, scrubby, or arid plains ; while the forest tracts are occupied by the agricultural Bantft tribes, akin to those of Austral Africa. These agricultural tribes, although very numerous, have been frequently obliged to displace themselves in order to avoid the incursions of their predatory neighbours. Extensive districts have thus been completely depopulated, the peaceful cultivation of the land being rendered absolutely impossible by the lawless habits of the Masai nomads. The liantus, who occupy the southern part of the territory in the vicinity of the Pangani river, are known to the surrounding peoples by various names. Thus the AVaswaheli call them AVashcnzi (Wa-Shenzi), that is to say, " Conquered," whereas to the Wasatnbaras of the western uplands they are simply Wabondei (Wa-lJondei), or " Lowlanders." All, however, are greatly intermingled with other reductxl populations, and merge by imperceptible transitions into the Mohainnicdan inhabitants of the coast, who are themselves made up of the most v.iried elements. The AVasamharas. The Wasambaras (Wa-Sambara), who occupy the southern highlands, are dis- tinguished from all their neighbours by several peculiar social customs. The marriage ceremonies especially are very curious. The bride and bridegroom are placed in the same cabin with a great fire between them, and then left for five days without food, beyond a little lukewarm water when they feel faint. On the fifth day they take a little nourishment, in order to acquire sufficient strength to join in the wedding procession, which takes the road to the mother-in-law's dwelling, trnd which is headed by the bridesmaid, dressed as a man, and armed with sword and gun. But these primitive usages are gradually disappearing since regular commercial rehitions have been established between the Wasambaras and the Swaheli. The Ki-Swaheli language is even becoming the general medium of intercourse amongst