BANTU NEG110E8 COO 



game and en ct their nets in long lines, supporting them bv means 

 of eanes. Some of the men cut a few branches and place them in such 

 a position on the opposite side of the net frdin that on which the drise 

 takes place that they may hide behind the liriishwuod. A considerable 

 section of the ))arty is then sent out to (irive the game towards the nets 

 which they do by shouting, blowing horns, setting their dogs to b;irk, 

 and lieating the gi'ass. The frightened animals flee before this noisy 

 crowd in the direction of the nets, and when they are brought up bv the.e 

 obstructions the negroes who are hidden under the brushwood at the 

 back of the net rise up and d<'spatch tlnMu with sjiears. Oeeasionallv 

 lions and leopards are diiven up with tln^ rest of the game, but thes(^ 

 are ordinal ily allowed to escape by the Ijairo, though a Muhima will 

 fearlessly approach and spear these fierce beasts. 



Besides these hunts on a large scale with nets, pitfiiUs are dug and 

 are coverefl with twigs and grass. Converging fences of branches are 

 constructed leading to these pitfalls as the only exit, and drives take 

 place to urge the gamt^ towards them. Slip-knots hung from the branches 

 of trees are also used as snares; and the weighted harpoon sns[)ended 

 point downwanls o\er the (rack of elephants, liippopotr.muses, or btiffaloei 

 is also in use, though it does not seem to be a very successful device. 



The Bairo build their houses singly or in gi-oups in or near their 

 plantations. The hut is very similar in appearance to that of the peasant 

 in Uganda, with an untidy haycock roof coming nearly down to the ground 

 and a low doorway. Inside there is little or no attempt at division by 

 screens, nor is there much fui-nitnre. Very often the only bed is a skin 

 spread on the floor. 



In the vicinity of Lake Albert Edward the Ijairo construct ca)wes which 

 are almost square in shape, like square tubs. They ar(» made of thin, hard 

 boards — boards that are split and adzed — sewn together witli the tendons 

 of animals. The paddles are about four feet long, more than half of which 

 is a narrow blade. 



The cKjricaltural implements of the Piairo are hoes (heart-shaped with 

 an iron tail, which is made to pass through a hole in the end of the wooden 

 handle and is secured by means of wedges), a sickle with a long handle, 

 axes with blades about an inch and a half broad, and small pointed knives. 

 The weapons of the Bairo are poorly made spears, bows and arrows, and 

 clubs of hard wood. The Bairo do a little smelting and welding of iron. 

 They make poor pottery and weave grass mats. 



When a young Muiro wishes to marry, he presents the father of the 

 girl with ten grass bundles containing flour, several jars of beer (made 

 either from sorghum or from fermented bananas), and a number of sheep, 

 according to his means. After the bride is conducted to her husband's 



