Kanga, Kikoi (1929)

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KENYA: FROM CHARTERED COMPANY TO CROWN COLONY
THIRTY YEARS OF EXPLORATION AND ADMINISTRATION IN BRITISH EAST AFRICA
by C. W. Hobley
London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
First edition 1929
Second edition 1970
(The second edition seems to just have a new introduction--ed.)

   As I said, beating OED's "khanga" (1967) and "kikoi" (1942) is going to be tough.


Pg. 65:  These rock pools are called _ngurunga_.
(Useful for "ngorongoro"--ed.)

Pg. 114:  The natives have stories of a marine monster which inhabits the lake and occasionallt attacks fishermen: it is called _lukwata_.
(OED has this later, but another spelling earlier--ed.)

Pg. 197:  In organising a porter caravan, the first thing to be done was to secure the services of a native headman or _Mniapara_.
(Not in the revised OED?--ed.)

Pg. 210:  The great armies of soldier ants, locally known by the name of _siafu_, cannot fail at some time or other to obtrude themselves on the notice of the resident in Africa.
(OED has 1920 in brackets, then 1959--ed.)

Pg. 245:  _Cotton cloth_.  It is generally known by the Swahili name of "_nguo_."  The standard cloth was and is known as "Amerikani," and described in the trade as "grey sheeting."  It was first introduced from the United States, hence its name.

Pg. 246:  A smaller unit was the "_mkono_," or the length of the forearm, thus eight "_mikono_" constitute a "_doti_."  After the Amerikani, came cheaper and lighter types of unbleached cloths, such as "Bombei or Mombei" (Bombay).  These, as the name implies, came from India; there was also a common rough cloth known as "_Shiti_;" these, however, never had a great vogue.
   "_Bafta_" is a finer bleached calico with a glaze on it, and it was useful for presents to chiefs and headmen; it is to-day mostly used for the long garment called the "_Kanzu_," worn by house servants and others.
   "_Kaniki_" is an indigo coloured cotton cloth packed in separate lengths and much favoured by women.  "_Kangas_" are squares of thin cotton material with gaudy patterns roughly printed on them.  They have still a great vogue among the native ladies on the coast, and the fashion changes according to the designs, well nigh monthly.  They were very little used up-country in the old days.
   "_Bendera_" is the Swahili word for flag, and derives its name from the fact that it is the same colour as the flag of the Sultan of Zanzibar, viz. bright red.  A small quantity was always carried, as it was appreciated by native headmen up-country, who liked either to make a turban of it or to drape it round their shoulders.
   "_Kikoi_" was a white cloth with a coloured border which was generally utilised for presents.  There were different qualities, and the comparative values of each were well known.

Pg. 246:
   _Beads_.  (None of these are in the OED?  I'll just list the names, if OED is interested--ed.)
"_ushanga_"
"_golabio_"
"_maziwa_" (milk)
"_maji bahari_" (sea-water)
"_shadda_"
   Pg. 247:
"_koja_"
"_kikete_"
"Mtinorok_"
"_Ukuta_"
"_Punda Milia_" (Swahili for zebra)
"_Nsambia_"
"_Bora_"
The brass wire was called "_masanago_"...
Its Swahili name was "_senengi_," and it was in great demand in Masailand for personal adornment.
The thin iron chain called "_mkufu_"...
They were called "_simbi_."