329 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



volubility and noisy swearing, but they generally terminates by 

 both parties bursting into a laugh. 



PECULIARITIES OF THE BATOKA TRIBE. 



THE Batokas inhabit a part of the country near the Kaf ue 

 river. They are friendly, ami came out in great numbers to see 

 the white man, bringing with them presents of corn and provis- 

 ions. The men go entirely naked. They walk about without the 

 smallest sense of shame. They have even lost the tradition of 

 the "fig-leaf." Livingstone asked a fine, large-bodied old man 

 if he did not think it would be better to adopt a little covering. 

 He looked with a pitying leer, and laughed with surprise at being 

 thought at all indecent ; he evidently considered himself above 

 such weak superstition. It was regarded as a good joke when 

 Livingstone told them that if they had no other clothing, they 

 might put on a bunch of grass. 



Their mode of salution is quite singular. They throw them- 

 selves on their backs on the ground, and, rolling from side to 

 side, slap the outside of their thighs as expressions of thankful- 

 ness and welcome, uttering the words " Kina bomba." Living- 

 stone says that this method of salutation was to him very 

 disagreeable, and he never could get reconciled to it. He would 

 call out, "Stop, stop ; don't do that ;" but they, imagining he 

 was dissatisfied, only tumbled about more furiously, and slapped 

 their thighs with greater vigor. 



"A chief named Monze came to us one Sunday morning," 

 says Livingstone, " wrapped in a large cloth, and rolled himself 

 about in the dust, screaming ' Kina bomba,' as they all do. The 

 sight of great naked men wallowing on the ground, though 

 intended to do mehonor, wasal ways very painful : it made me feel 

 thankful that my lot had been cast in such different circumstances 

 from that of so many of my fellow-men. One of his wives 

 accompanied him : she would have been comely if her teeth had 

 been spared : she had a little battle-axe in her hand, and helped 

 her husband to scream. She was much excited, for she had 

 seen a white man before." 



