Zanzibar and the East Coast of Africa [pp. 70-87]

1887.1 Zanzibar and the East Coast of Africa. 77
giving the owner a most frightful and ogre- kinds appears so wonderful to them that it
like expression; you might imagine that you is attributed to witchcraft. A story is told
had before you a set of wild demons let of a Portuguese taking into the interior
loose from the infernal regions. Now and then an assortment of cheap Amen can clocks,
men and women were to be seen with these which he meant to barter for ivory. He
filed teeth blackened, but the effect in these imprudently set them all going at once in
cases was not quite so dreadful. The noses the presence of a chief, who was so dreadand lips, too, were subjected to a variety of fully alarmed at what he considered to be
ornamentation-in the former a ring or the presence of a number of demons that he
pie Ce of hard wood was often to be observed precipitately rushed out of his hut in fear
passed through the cartilage, or a sprig was and trembling; and the unfortunate trader
let into the upper side of each nostril, just was ordered to quit the country instantly,
as you see pictures of Hindoo belles, ex- besides being heavily fined, and he concepting that in their case the omaments are sidered himself lucky to have got off so
gold or silver with precious stones. As to cheaply. "Magicians," too, are to be
the lips, you would see in the upper one a found amongst them, who, as usual, impose
circular piece of wood or ivory let in, simi- on the credulity of the ignorant masses for
lar to the lobe-fillers, so that it sometimes their own benefit.
protruded at right angles to the face. Curi- The only attempt that was ever made, exously enough, this is the style of lip adorn- cepting perhaps within the last two or three
ment adopted by the tribe of Botacudo In- years, to Christianize the blacks on the east
dians in South America, excepting that with coast of Africa beyond Caffraria (which inthem it is the lower, instead of the upper, cludes Zululand), was at Mombasa, an
lip that is so treated, and it protrudes for Arab town on the coast opposite to Zanzibar,
at least two inches. There are models of somewhat to the north, where a missionary
them at the Crystal Palace near London. establishment was founded in i847; but I
Lastly, we come to the negro style of hair- understand that it has long been abandoned.
dressing. This is almost as varied as the Talking of missionaries-in the Cape Colony
distinctive marks on their faces. The pre- there were ~n my time, and probably are
vailing fashion, however, is horticultural- still, several Moravian establishments, where
that is, the hair is separated by rectangular the Hottentots were taught, in addition to
seams into a number of square patches, re- religion, various kinds of trades. In fact,
sembling garden beds. One tribe, the these missionaries are thoroughly in earnest
~7asagara, to the south of Abyssinia, adopt in their endeavors to ameliorate the condithe classical and picturesque coiffure of an- tion of their flocks, both physically and
cient Egypt, and possibly derived it thence. morally. I spent several days at one of
The Portuguese domestic slaves generally their settlements in that Colony, and was
had their heads close shaved. delighted with the order as well as content,
One remarkable thing amongst these last that prevailed amongst their disciples. Of
African tribes is the absence of fetich wor- these they had about twelve hundred, the
ship as practised on the west coast. They sexes being pretty equally divided. It was
have not even idols. Indeed, their ideas of perfectly soul-inspiring to hear this congrereligion, if they have any at all, seem to be gation sing the old year out and the new
exceedingly vague; but they generally do be- year in. Their voices were most harmonious,
lieve in an evil spirit or spirits, and super- and produced a thrilling effect-the men
natural power; and the superstition of some and women sitting in two separate bodies in
of the tribes is extreme. Mechanisni of all their place of worship. A peculiar custom,