This sea is fresh, is good and sweet;
    Your sea is salt, and bad, unfit to drink. 
    This sea is like wine to drink for thirsty men;
    The salt sea—­bah! it makes men sick.

    Lift up your heads, O men, and gaze around;
    Try if you can see its end. 
    See, it stretches moons away,
    This great, sweet, fresh-water sea.

    We come from Usukuma land,
    The land of pastures, cattle, sheep and goats,
    The land of braves, warriors, and strong men,
    And, lo! this is the far-known Usukuma sea.

    Ye friends, ye scorned at us in other days. 
    Ah, ha!  Wangwana.  What say ye now? 
    Ye have seen the land, its pastures and its herds,
    Ye now see the far-known Usukuma sea. 
    Kaduma’s land is just below;
    He is rich in cattle, sheep, and goats. 
    The Msungu is rich in cloth and beads;
    His hand is open, and his heart is free.

    To-morrow the Msungu must make us strong
    With meat and beer, wine and grain. 
    We shall dance and play the livelong day,
    And eat and drink, and sing and play.”

The religious and miscellaneous poetry is not of the highest order.  One of the most remarkable men of the Kaffir tribe was Sicana, a powerful chief and a Christian.  He was a poet, and composed hymns, which he repeated to his people till they could retain them upon their memories.  The following is a specimen of his poetical abilities, and which the people are still accustomed to sing to a low monotonous air:—­

    “Ulin guba inkulu siambata tina
    Ulodali bom’ unadali pezula,
    Umdala undala idala izula,
    Yebinza inquinquis zixeliela. 
    UTIKA umkula gozizuline,
    Yebinza inquinquis nozilimele. 
    Umze uakonana subiziele,
    Umkokeli ua sikokeli tina,
    Uenza infama zenza go bomi;
    Imali inkula subiziele,
    Wena wena q’aba inyaniza,
    Wena wena kaka linyaniza,
    Wena wena klati linyaniza;
    Invena inh’inani subiziele,
    Ugaze laku ziman’ heba wena,
    Usanhla zaku ziman’ heba wena,
    Umkokili ua, sikokeli tina: 
    Ulodali bom’ uadali pezula,
    Umdala uadala idala izula.”

TRANSLATION.

    “Mantle of comfort!  God of love! 
      The Ancient One on high! 
    Who guides the firmament above,
      The heavens, and starry sky;

    Creator, Ruler, Mighty One;
      The only Good, All-wise,—­
    To him, the great eternal God,
      Our fervent prayers arise.

    Giver of life, we call on him,
      On his high throne above,
    Our Rock of refuge still to be,
      Of safety and of love;

    Our trusty shield, our sure defence,
      Our leader, still to be: 
    We call upon our pitying God,
      Who makes the blind to see.

    We supplicate the Holy Lamb
      Whose blood for us was shed,
    Whose feet were pierced for guilty man,
      Whose hands for us have bled;