“Did you have many of them?”
“I think all the thieves of Zanzibar joined the ‘journey-makers’ this time.”
“That cannot be, Ferajji, because we had some thieves with us, and there must have been a few left on the coast.”
The audience laugh. Ferajji replied, “That is indeed truth, but we had a great many. Brass rods, cowries, and garments were lost daily. Zanzibaris accused Soudanese, Soudanese accused Somalis, Somalis accused Zanzibaris, and so it went round. Nothing was safe. Put anything under your pillow, roll it under the sleeping-mat, bind it tight, and make it into a headrest, and lo! in the morning it was gone! Indeed, I became afraid my teeth would be stolen next.”
“But those white teeth of yours are not purchased, are they, Ferajji?”
“No, thank Allah, they were born with me, but those who thrive on thieving may well be feared.”
“That is true, Ferajji; but why should they have stolen all the time?”
“Hunger made them steal. Hunger killed the strong lion in the fable, and hunger will kill the best man.”
“Hunger! what are you talking of. Hunger, with all those fields of manioc near here?”
“Manioc, master! Manioc will do for a time, but manioc with sauce is better.”