of the cultivation, and having little individuality, 

 less liberty, and no rights, are content if by the 

 result of their labour they can bring comfort to 

 their owner, and by their fecundity bear him a 

 large family ; for children will, in their turn, work 

 for the house and be a further source of wealth 

 to their father. 



These poor women are compelled to rise before 

 daybreak to prepare the morning meal of infundi, 

 or pound grain or tobacco for to-morrow's use. 

 They must then go to till their fields of mandioc, 

 ground-nuts, or millet ; minding their babies, who 

 spend their little lives slung on their mother's 

 backs, as best they can. 



My lord the husband, after lazily stretching 

 himself in the sun and eating his breakfast, has, 

 perchance, gone off to visit his game traps or 

 set new ones, and on his return to the village will 

 expect more food and attention from his hard- 

 worked harem. In the evening, if palm wine is 

 available or there is any excuse for merry-making 

 or excitement, such as a big hunting success, or a 

 death, much drink will be taken by the men, and 

 if it can be spared, a little by the women too. 



This drink may be wine from the self-fermented 

 sap of the palm tree, or native beer prepared by 

 fermenting Elcusine coracana (Luco), or germinated 

 Indian corn mixed with mandioc root. " Garapa," 

 as this beer is called, is not so heavy as the strongest 

 palm wine, but either of these beverages is potent 

 enough to help the dancing, singing, and drum- 

 beating which always accompany a drinking bout. 



(n no other race c..in one I'md so many uncom- 



14 



