FROM TALI TO TSEKOU 



happy to lead an animal life without beliefs, or punishment for 

 crime other than the vengeance of the victim's kindred. Desirous 

 of learning- more about these natives, I invaded several of their 

 dwellings. They were for the most part built of wood round a 

 centre court, in which were the pigs. Within was a dais for sleep- 

 ing, as in Arab houses. There were few implements visible ; but 

 one snare I noticed for taking pheasants, of wide meshes on a light 

 wooden frame, — the men envelop themselves in straw and crouch 

 in the stubble, and the birds taking them for rice-shocks are skilfully 

 netted. Another weapon of the chase was the cross-bow, the arrows 

 for which are carried in a quiver covered with the skin of the wild ass. 



In the interior I detected no sign of any worship, but on 

 emerging I observed under the roof a row of miniature bows and 

 some joss-sticks. The occupants told me they reverenced Mazi, 

 the Spirit of the Waters ; Wousinkoui and Masimpo, two brothers 

 who formerly fell into the water and became superior beings ; and 

 Tsomane, the Spirit of Evil. So that it would appear they are not 

 such infidels as they professed, although they persisted in their 

 disbelief in a future state, or any after punishment for assassins. 

 This village presented a remarkable example of a community 

 associated for the defence of mutual interests without any fear of 

 final retribution. 



Sickness was very prevalent in the district, chiefly fevers follow- 

 ing excessive heat. Suicide was of ordinary occurrence. When a 

 member of the tribe fell under the ban of his parents or his neigh- 

 bours, he put an end to himself with a dose of opium. Monogamy 

 is the habitual custom with them. At our departure they bade us 

 beware of the eggs that might be offered us farther on ; they are 

 often rendered deadly by being steeped in poison. In connection 

 with this danger I recalled a story told by the missionaries in 



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