DEPORTMENT OF SAVAGE NEGROES. 331 



that it is possible to understand much of what is said without 

 hearing a word of it. 



If we suppose ourselves to visit the chief of a negro village, we 

 shall find him sitting in the veranda of his hut with his nobles, 

 and the braves who have come to pay their respects, around him. 

 If it be still early in the morning, there may be here and there a 

 man reclining on his side by the embers of last night's fire, with 

 his head resting in his hands and his knees drawn high up. Most 

 of the negroes sleep in this position, and their bed-places are 

 accordingly so short that stretching at full length in them is 

 attended by inconveniences. When awakened at last by the as- 

 cending sun, the sleeper gets himself into a squatting position/" 

 stretches his arms forward over his high-drawn-up knees, so as to 

 balance himself, and slowly rises without his hands touching the 

 ground. The accustomed attitude of the chief is to be sitting on 

 a low stool with his arms resting upon his knees, smoking a pipe, 

 while his officers are squatting around him. New-comers to the 

 audience, making the usual salutations, advance carefully as if 

 treading upon glass, and if nobles, and privileged to sit in the 

 presence of the chief, bearing their stools, which they deliberately 

 seat themselves upon. The caller then draws his knees closely up 

 to his breast, lays one arm upon his leg, grasps one hand with the 

 other, and stoops over till his chin nearly touches his knees ; or 

 he stretches his legs out, crosses his feet, andr rests his hands upon 

 his knees ; but the negro men never crosp their legs as we do, or 

 spread fchem apart when they sit down^ Nor do they sit in the 

 Oriental fashion. They are fond of getting the forearm into a 

 position where it will have some liberty, and playing with little 

 sticks or straws. A curious position in sitting is with the heels 

 supported against a stick and the toes resting upon the ground, 

 while the legs are doubled upon themselves and the arms are left 

 free from the elbow down. Some dispense with the stick and 

 squat upon their heels, while only their toes touch the ground. 

 They then have to use a stick, bow, or lance as a support. 



The standing negro keeps his legs close together, with the 

 knees inclining slightly inward, so that the feet touch and the 

 great toes can play with one another. With his back some- 

 what bent, notwithstanding his broad shoulders and muscular 

 figure, he gives the impression of a weakling. In one hand he 

 holds his bow and arrows, while with the other he carries his 

 spear over his shoulder. In time he will change his position, and, 

 supporting himself by his right shoulder, will plant his left leg 

 straight upon the ground, and set the sole of his right foot against 

 his left knee, leaving the right knee to project forward at an acute 

 angle. This is one of the most peculiar and characteristic atti- 

 tudes of the negroes. If they rest their hands against their sides, 



