64 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I33 



walk toward him, especially if the visitor has been inivted or if there is 

 a barking dog nearby. Should an unexpected visitor be approaching 

 or an unexpected person be accompanying the invited visitor, the door 

 of the ruka is closed and no one appears on the scene until all is in 

 readiness within the ruka. Visitors, in such instances, linger at a 

 little distance, awaiting the opening of the door and a call to enter, 

 or they await the appearance of someone who will give a greeting of 

 welcome. If neither of these happens within a reasonable time, the 

 visitor may knock on the door. If there is no response, he leaves 

 the place knowing that he is not welcome at that particular time. On 

 one occasion my companions and I met no response and consequently 

 left the place. When we were well on our way over the top of a hill, 

 we saw the woman and her children leave the ruka for a bath in a 

 river nearby. The following day we were met by the woman some 

 distance from the ruka and given a hearty welcome, but no explanation 

 was offered for the preceding day's silence. The woman had merely 

 done the customary thing. On another occasion the interpreter wished 

 to deliver some medicines at a ruka we were passing en route to an- 

 other family. She walked up to the ruka and called the woman's name. 

 When we were still some distance from the ruka, we had seen the 

 woman and her two little girls enter it and close the door. When 

 there was no response, the interpreter remarked that in all probability 

 the ruka was not in order, and we walked on. On our way home the 

 woman stood outside the open door and greeted us. We chatted a 

 little in her yard, and then she invited us to enter her ruka. Low 

 benches had been set and covered, and the little girls were in their 

 best dresses. 



When a visitor is expected at a ruka, either a sheep pelt or woven 

 throw is placed on each low bench or low chair or on the floor, close 

 to the fireplace. In a ruka to which we had been invited to observe 

 the making of mote (wheat cooked with ashes, cf. pp. 206-207) the 

 mother ordered a child to replace a sheep pelt with a newly woven 

 throw. "Certainly, child," the mother said, "we must give visitors 

 our best ; that is only being courteous !" One is seated only after he 

 has shaken hands with everyone present, including anyone busy near 

 the ruka or in the garden who comes in to shake hands and then re- 

 turns to his work. Once seated, one inquires about the health and 

 well-being of all the members of the family, and for the whereabouts 

 of those not present. Similar questions are asked of the visitor. This 

 done, one begins to tell the purpose of the visit. Never, under any 

 circumstances, does one begin with one's business immediately upon 

 being seated. We noticed that all men and women — in some instances 



