Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-11

The populated strip along the side Of this
volcanic elevation is from two to five miles wide
and is occupied by 60 900 natives. II is divided
into no less than thirty states, each governed
by more or less Independent sultan, who is
separated from his neighbors by patch Of
wilderness or a deep gorge. The biggest state
has 10 900 inhabitants, while those least In size
have only from 100 to 800 subjects The people
call themselves the Wa Chaga- At the north
end of the sixty zone is the nation Of Useri,
with population Of 5000, governed by Mali
mia, sultan, who is shy Of strangers because
he fears lest they bewitch him. Most amiable
Of these petty monarchs is Miliari. ruler Of Ma
rang, who has 600 warriors and is a great friend
to Europeans. West Of Marang is Kilemma,
whose king Fumba, has made himself SO noto-
rious by his begging habits that foreigners
avoid taxing his hospitality.
THE MOST ENLIGHTENED PorKNIATR.
By far the most enlightened of these feudal
potentates, however, is Mandsrs, King Of Moshi,
who has sent ambassadors to the Emperor Of
Germany. He has made a business Of accumu-
lating European curiositles Of every imaginable
sort-toy steam engines, clocks, guns Of many
patterns, stereoscopes, sewing machines, books,
&c. He keeps these treasures stored away,
bringing them out occasionally for his own
amusement to exhibit before the envious
ewes of visiting chiefs. Most powerful Of all
the sultans is Cena, ruler of Kibosho, who holds
his own against all the other chiefs allied
against him. He has constructed beneath his
stockade a remarkable system of underground
passages, by means Of which his wives and cat
tie could at any time escape from foe, emery
ing far away through secret tunnels.
The men Of the Wa Chaga are not well made
physically, but the women are very erect, owing
to their habit of carrying loads on their heads
Many Of the young girls are pretty, and some
of the ladies Of Mendars's harem would be
beauties in any country. The wives are obliged
A. 4. l.sl = =
demand. Every man has as many wives as he
can get, SO that there are no old maids. The
women outnumber the men In a ratio Of five to
three, partly owing to loss of life in wars
Wives are purchased for sheep and goats, and
more rarely for cows At Q wedding the bride
is decked with all the beads abe can borrow for
the occasion, In the shape OF girdles, necklaces
&C., and is plentifully smeared with red ochre
When about to make An addition to the family
the woman wears . noisy iron rattle ON her
thigh.
ABSOLUTE POWER OVER THEIR SUBJECTS.
The sultans have absolute power over the
lives and property Of their subjects, though they
are controlled by many customs. They claim
ownership to all cattle within their domains and
. monopoly Of the ivory trade. Wars are COM
mon. their purpose being usually to obtain
from the coast. who are always waiting around
the courts Of the chiefs to pick up such mer-
chandise. The Wa Chaga are incorrigible
thieves, being particularly given to chicken
stealing. DR.. Abbott found . convenient pro-
tectaon ageinst their depredations IN the repu-
tation he acquired g. Q sorcerer. His fame In
this respect was completely established by .
spring gun in his store room, which went Oh
and shot one Of the guards placed in charge Of
the provisions.
For the dress Of both sexes white sheesine
and bright calicoes brought BY the coast traders
ha maj
nothing worth mentioning besides . bead girdle
with q small patch Of cloth hung In front. All
the women adorn themselves with as many
girdles and necklaces Of beads Is they can OBJ
tain. They are very fond Of massive pewter
bracelets that weigh several pounds each. O.
well Is Of armlets and anklets of copper or iron
wire. The dress Of warrior usually consists
Of RUIZ Of ostrich feathers around the face, Q
large cape Of vulture feathers, anklets of black
monkey skin and . bit Of red cloth around the
loirs; all of which make up an attire that IL
bota striking and picturesque. For battle q
spear with Q long and beautiful blade Of steel
il carried, together with q huge oval shield of
buffalo hide painted with the hersldic pattern
Of the owners tribe.
THERE ARE NO VILLAGES.
There are no villages, each family living by
itself in one or more huts, with granary and
shed, surrounded by banana plantation Each
wife has . hut TO herself. The ordinary house
10 twelve feet high, shaped like bee hive, and
built Of grsss over . framework Of sticks. The
interior OF the hut ordinarily accommodates,
ID. - n ~