The number three is the most universally similar. Take from Zanzibar on to the East Coast to Banana on to the West Coast there is but little variation, and through the forest region to Lake Albert, water is almost pretty near alike, especially on the Western half, varying from riba, liba, libu, libo, ibo, rubu.

Chicken = kuku, kokko, ngokko, bukoko.—These words seem
most popular across
Africa.
Spear = ikunga, kunga.
Goat = me-me.
Ten = kumi.
Dog = mbwa, mbua.

One would imagine a confusion of languages, as for instance:—

Hottentot
Eye = mu
Babusessé
Head = mu
Kumbutti
Head = mo
Mandingo.
Man = mo
Wahuma
Milk = mata
Galla
Head = matta
DanakilCow = laArabic. la = no
Tuarik.
Hair = zau
Kikongo
Elephant = nzau
Kiyanzi.
Friend = koi
Bakiokwa.
Eye = koi
Kisawahili.
Bana or Bwana = Master
East Manyuema.
Bana = four
Kisawahili.
Kiboko = Hippo
Bavira
Head, hand, finger = Kiboko
Somali.
Boro, mountain
—is in Swahili a vile slang word; and country in Niam Niam.

Semmé in Hurrur is sky; in Soudanese Arabic it means good.

Kuba in Bavira is sky; is dog in Adaiel, big in Swahili.

Barra in Adaiel is woman; is continent in Swahili.

Ina in Kiyanzi is four; in Yoruba means fire.

Afi in Babira means road; in Ku-mbutti means river.