Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/444

 360 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. Amongst the Wanyikns the division of time into four days still prevails, as in certain West African regions. They worship the sun, and their priests possess the mwanza, a mysterious instrument which is sometimes heard booming through the forents, hut which, according to popular* belief, no profane eye can behold with- out bein<>- struck dead on the spot. AVhen they reach the period of manhood the voung men have to cut great gashes across their breists in order to "renew their bhxKl," and also to give proof of unflinching courage. Another test is reserved for the sons of dnefs. who are required to live apart in the forests until they have " killed their num." After this act of prowess they are allowed to return to the paternal roof, and are declared worthy of succeeding to the chief power in the tril)e. Some Wakamhas fiom the north-west, and Swahelis from the coastlands, as well as various other immigrants, also dwell amid the Wanyika communities. In their territory numerous colonies have also been established by the Mohammedans, whose sheikhs are gradually becoming formidable rivals to the indigenous tribal chiefs. liesides these stningers the European missionaries have for some years been ensriiired in evanijelisin'' the Wauvika nation. One of their most flourishing: stations is that of liafxii, which was founded about the middle of the present century by Krapf and IJebmunu on an eminence in the neighbourhood of Morabaz. From the crest of this hill, about 1,000 feet high, the view sweeps over a vast horizon of plains, reefs, islands, and surf-beaten headlands. The Teita Mountains, which are crossed by the route leading from Mombaz to Kilima-Njaro, are also occupied by tribes of Bantu stock, speaking a dialect closely related to Ki-Swahcli, and according to Rebmann collectively numbering about a hundred and fifty thousand souls. These Wateitas (Wa-Teita) are constituted in republican communities, which sheltered behind their rocky fastnesses, have often repulsed the attacks of the savage Masai marauders. Amongst them the primitive custom of carrying off the bride by violence still survives in the form of a pretended abduction. The husband and his friends remove her by a show of force to his newly erected hut, where both arc left shut up for three days without any food whatever. But the make believe capture is always preceded by a present of cattle to her pirents, and the number of animals usually demanded on these occasions is so great, that rich persons alone are able to afford the luxury of a regular marriage. Owing to the general poverty, many less formal alliances are conseijuently contracted, often within close degrees of kinship. The Teita women enjoy a large share of personal freedom. Whenever she feels herself in any way aggrieved, the wife may leave her husband without let or hindrance on his part. The Wateitas bury their dead in the first instance, but after several months of interment the body is dug up and the head detached and placed apart in a sacred grove, where it is regularly consulted by the magicians. Although possessing numerous herds, the Wateitas eat only such animals as die of the cattle-plague.