ETIQUETTE AND GOVERNMENT 217 



of this ceremony of salutation has fallen into 

 disuse. I never met a big Angolan King or Chief 

 in my 1000 miles of wandering on foot through 

 the country ; but I understand that when one 

 does, the King and his counsellors dress up in 

 their best and assemble in front of the royal hut 

 or under the tree of audience. Here the King, 

 seated and surrounded by his counsellors (called 

 ;c macotas ") and his people, receives the European, 

 who sits in front of his own servants and opposite 

 the King. The visitors clap their hands, and 

 the King responds by extending his left arm in 

 front of him, and placing the back of the right 

 hand in the palm of the left, the fingers of the 

 former being moved in the direction of the visitor. 



If the visitor is a white man, which means 

 that he is the King's equal, both he and the King 

 clap hands ; then the King, through one of his 

 counsellors, welcomes the guest to the town, and 

 asks him his wishes. The white man replies 

 through an interpreter, and makes a suitable 

 present. The meeting breaks up after a hand- 

 shake, and the King then sends the white man a 

 present of food-stuffs. 



When natives approach a King or big Chief, 

 they kneel on the ground and rub their foreheads 

 in the dust ; or rub their hands in the dust, and 

 place some of it on the forehead. 



When the dress of a Chief consists of discarded 

 European clothing, it may be very ludicrous, as 

 when a top hat ornamented with wine labels is 

 worn on the head ; or a once brilliant uniform 

 only partly covers the body. Some Chiefs, how- 



