Inside rich water well that cooled slaves’ throats

Boys fetch water to shower from Emery Well in Mombasa after swimming in the Indian Ocean. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

The towering man tested the edge of the cliff with the tip of his gigantic boot. With a look of trepidation, he gingerly extended his leg, changed his mind midway and planted it decisively on the solid ground and announced.

“I am not a good swimmer. You just go. I will hang around here until you come.”