222 



surprise their enemy alone at night. They are afraid 

 in open combat, or if they do, they must feel themselves superior 

 in strength. The most innocent sounds may be productive of 

 fear and trembling, through their imagination. They are easily 

 roused to great anger, when they will scold and abuse each other 

 for days, or even beat and wound with spears, but the latter only 

 by piercing into the thick muscles of the thighs. To prevent such 

 a quarrel ending fatally, the rest interfere, when necessary, armed 

 with their spears. At other times they will sit comfortably to- 

 gether and tell tales. They consider the aged, sick, and infirm 

 members to a certain extent, and supply them with food and 

 drink if not requiring too careful and tender treatment; but other- 

 wise they may precij)itate the end by their inconsiderate action 

 during outbursts of sorrow and grief. 



They can also take pleasure in being extremely cruel. They 

 may beat some at times to death. Their enemies they sj^ear in 

 places where tlie wound is not speedily fatal, break off' the shaft, 

 and push the barbed end still deeper into the body; they then 

 scorch the wound and adjacent parts with a firestick, to induce 

 people to think the person had been killed by falling into the 

 lire. They can also be tender and kind, carrying wounded com- 

 rades, itc, carefully in their arms or on their backs. 



The natives are also hospitable. AVhen visitors arrive in camp 

 they give whatever they have. Everything conducive to socia- 

 bility and amusement they cultivate and practice as much as they 

 are able. They do not care to be much alone, but sit together 

 for hours and days, chattering about nothing in particular, or 

 lewdly, even in the presence of children, without a thought or a 

 care. They are fond of numerous visitors, and of returning their 

 visits. 



Courtesy is not unknown among them. They salute each 

 other by striking the thigh several times with the palm of the 

 hand. AVhen strangers pay a visit they do not enter the 

 " tmaruna^'' camp, at once, but sit down at some distance and 

 wait till someone comes and takes them in ; if there be no man 

 at home, the oldest woman performs the ceremony. If a larger 

 number arrive in company, the whole " tmara^' camp, becomes 

 agitated. In solemn procession they go to meet them, with their 

 weapons in their hands, approaching in serpentine curves, and 

 performing all sorts of bodily motions, while the visitors stand 

 still, the spears placed before them, the point directed upwards. 

 After saluting each other they sit down and chat. 



In regard to living, the natives are quite thoughtless, never 

 heeding the future. If they have something to eat, they feed 

 until it is linished. Some can devour three-fourths of a sheep at 



