Alternatively, food could be purchased at any of the
dozens of stops along the way, from friendly locals who would walk right up to
the train.
Women selling food at a Tazara train stop. Ben Mack /
"Ndizi!" the women balancing enormous plates
and bowls on their heads would shout in Swahili, meaning they were selling fresh
bananas. "Maembe!" others would say, meaning they were selling very
ripe mangoes. You could usually buy a bunch for about $0.40 by simply passing
money through the window — and it was really quite something to see the women
walk around, balancing everything perfectly on their heads without using their
hands or having to walk slowly.
