234 



The natives eat anywhere, most frequently, of course, on the 

 shady or sheltered side of their hut. They eat when hungry, 

 and whatever is handy, even in the middle of the night the 

 pounding of the roots being often heard. The principal meal is 

 generally taken toward evf^ning, when returning from the hunt 

 and the 7nana-gathermg. The women collect the fuel, carrying 

 their mana and little children in troughs under the arms, while 

 the bigger ones trot along beside them. When the food is ready 

 it is eaten, and the duration of the meal is determined by the 

 quantity of food available. The father tears up the meat, or 

 cuts it with his stone knife, and throws a piece to each one — 

 wife, children, kc. When the father has brought home any big 

 game, onlookers in number appear, and also get a piece each. 

 Certain of the women remain at home in turn to take care of 

 the children, and are also supplied. There is often squabbling 

 as to who shall act nurse, because they like best to stay at home. 

 The natives eat of their stock as long as it lasts, and are 

 gluttonous ; but the meat must be well cooked, for they will not 

 eat it underdone, and still less raw. 



The natives to the south eat human flesh. It is said that they 

 engage in regular human-hunting parties for this purpose. The 

 father and a brother of one of our converts are said to have 

 fallen victims to this practice, whilst the mother had a narrow 

 escape. It is even said that they roast and eat their own infants, 

 if they succeed each other too quickly. Only last year a woman 

 not far from here did it, and when she was reproved for so doings 

 by means of an interpreter (for they speak a different language), 

 she was surprised at being found fault with, as she considered 

 the roasting and eating of her own child as something quite 

 natural ! 



Ji. VISITING. 



The natives are fond of visiting. The meeting place is usually 

 the tmara nkanja for the men, i.e., the bachelors' camp ; Avhilst 

 the women go to the tmara lukara, or women's quarter. They 

 are extremely fond of narratives, or any news. When strangers 

 arrive they become quite animated, receive them in style, and 

 treat them as well as they are able, introducing them to those in 

 the camp. The reception ceremonies have already been described, 

 when treating of courtesy. When these are over they sit down 

 together and begin to converse, the men congregating at one 

 place the women at another. The latter have no household cares 

 to divert their attention. They offer their guests just whatever 

 they have handy ; if they have nothing the guests get nothing, 

 and take it as a matter of course, for it is as they would act 

 themselves. The rule is that the BeJtara treats Beltara, Gomara 

 the Gomara^ kc. Strangers usually sleep together at a separat 



