Guardian (37 page)

1. Donga – Dry river bed.

1. Giriama (or Mijikenda) – One of a group of nine Bantu peoples, living along the East African coast (between Mombasa and Malindi).

1. Syce – One who looks after horses.

2. Mzee – Term of respect for an old man.

3. “Ndiyo, bwana” – “Yes, sir.”

1. “Huko, bwana, huko” – “Over there, sir, over there.”

2. Bundu – Any uncultivated or untamed land.

1. Marram grass – A tough native grass that can withstand dry conditions.

1. “Haraka, haraka. Watu mpega kifungua.” – “Come quickly. Someone's broken the lock.”

2. Askaris – Used either to describe local Kenyan soldiers or, as in this case, policemen serving in the Colonial Police Force.

1. Murram – In Africa, laterite soils were and are used to build roads – known colloquially as murram in East Africa. Virtually all of East Africa's roads, other than those in towns, were so constructed at the time.

1. Kanzu – A long, usually white garment worn by African men, particularly those in catering or service.

2. Betel – Betel, or the areca nut, is the seed of the areca palm, which grows in parts of East Africa. It is commonly referred to as betel nut, and is a frequently used minor drug often chewed wrapped in betel leaves.

1. Jalabiyas – Arabic Islamic clothing for men, usually long, white coverings roughly equivalent to the East African kanzu.

1. Sjambok – A heavy whip, usually made of rhinocerous or hippopotamus hide.

1. The fallen angel described in the Bible as king over evil spirits dispatched to ‘the bottomless pit'. In Hebrew he is called Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.

1. Gharry – Car.

1. Summuni – Half a Kenyan shilling (twenty shillings to the British £ at the time).

2. “Jambo, abari yako?” – A standard Swahili greeting: “Hello, how are you?”

3. Kikoi – The ubiquitous and usually only garment worn by men in the hot coastal belt.

1. Kwetu – literal translation – Us.

1. Totos – Children (toto – child).

2. Posho – A form of porridge made from maize.

1. “Kuwa Kimya” – “Be silent.”

1. Thobe – An ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe.

1. Ugali – Thick, cooked maize grain, known more commonly as posho.

2. Baobab – Particularly ugly water-filled tree found in dry areas (known as the upside-down tree, because that's what it looks like!)

1. Burnouse – A long, loose-hooded cloak worn by Arabs.