ABOUT THE MASSARAS. 359 



cooked with oil, pepper, and salt, is very palatable. The 

 portion above the soil is like a very thin sprig of privet 

 bush, with less substance in the stem. 



The stone of the meruley fruit is also carefully 

 cracked, and the kernel picked out. In flavour it much 

 resembles an old walnut, and the people esteem them a 

 great delicacy. 



The Bechuanas, I remarked, appeared exceedingly 

 fond of their children. I do not think such is the case 

 with the Massara ; possibly they find them very much 

 in the way when leading such a roving life. Moreover, 

 the services of the young women in procuring food for 

 the family must be very valuable. From this fact I 

 suppose arises the practice of babes being handed over 

 to their grandmothers to be suckled. Such unfair treat- 

 ment of the child is rather to be deplored. 



The probability that this race will become extinct is 

 great : fifty years ago they were twice as numerous as 

 they are now. The Matabeles, however, have much to 

 do with the diminution of their numbers, for although 

 they are not so prone to it now, at one period they 

 were in the habit of hunting them like wild beasts, and 

 showing them quite as little mercy. 



On the whole the Massara seem to lead a happy enough 

 life, and an occasion like the present is evidently con- 

 sidered by them a grand holiday. I explained to Um- 

 ganey that I wished him to ask the guide what these 

 host of people were to be paid ; the reply was laconic, 

 " Give them plenty meat." 



Every morning I had a levee of sick natives the 

 men, that is, the invalids, who attended, generally had 

 fearful sores or a disease of the skin, in which it ap- 

 peared to peel off in large white flakes, but I usually 



