Page:Central African Mission.djvu/14

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10
Central African Mission.

the Digos, so that just now the coast Swahili are carrying on all the trade with Magila, the valley people being afraid to venture through the country of their enemies. There is now no actual fighting, and probably there will be no more for some time to come, as all parties are thoroughly worn out. The Shambala wars are said to have increased the population near Magila, many of the mountain people having come coastwards for safety.

The station at Magila may be viewed as the first station among the Shambala, or as a starting-point for Missions among them, and an actual occupation of the Boonde, or low country. Any station nearer the coast would be surrounded by Mahommedans. Through the Shambala country lies the road to the Wateita, Wapara, Wachaga, and other tribes about Kilimanjaro, the great snowy mountain. It may be worth consideration whether anything could be attempted among the Digos. The next tribe to the northward are the Nyikas, where the Church Missionary Society has long been at work, and the United Free Methodists have also a station. In my own judgment we should do better to attempt the tribes to the southward.

South of the Shambala lie the Zegulas, a very warlike and very barbarous tribe. Next to them the Zagaras, through whose country lies the direct road to Ujiji and the great lakes. The chief tribe in this direction are the Nyamwezi, though many