Part 1: Chapter 4 Summary

Chapter 4 begins with a brief history of Ilmorog. It begins with the native Kenyans, and moves on to the colonists who appeared to disrupt the peaceful existence that had once blessed the Ilmorog residents. Abdulla's shop had been started by an Indian man, who'd gotten a Kenyan girl in trouble and been killed in the Ilmorog forest for it. When Abdulla came to Ilmorog, he'd had to rescue the small building from moths, spiders, and rats. He'd always been bad tempered, constantly cursing at Joseph and frowning at the customers. Since Wanja's arrival however, he became friendlier to the customers and almost kindly to Joseph. At first Wanja seems content to help Abdulla in his shop and her Grandmother in the fields. Soon however, she becomes despondent, even angry, and bitter at the village and its people. Abdulla tries to offer...