July 7, 1881] 



NATURE 



117 



but after a time with their customary speed, so great is 

 their vitality." 



The author gives some valuable details concerning the 



Mucassequeres, who seem to be a remnant of one of the 

 primitive African tribes. 



"The Mucassequeres occupy, jointly with the Am- 



buellas, the territory lying between the Cubango and 

 Cuando. the latter dwelling on the rivers and the former 

 in the forests ; in describing the two tribes, one may say 

 that the latter arc barb.irians and the former downright 

 savages. They hold but little communication with each 

 other, but, on the other hand, they do not break out into 

 hostilities. When pressed by hunger the Mucassequeres 

 will come over to the Ambuellas and procure food by the 

 barter of ivory and wax. Each tribe would seem to be 

 independent, and not recognise any common chief. If 

 they do not fight with their neighbours they nevertheless 

 quarrel among themselves ; and the prisoners taken in 

 these conflicts are sold as slaves to the Ambuellas, who 

 subsequently dispose of them to the Bihe caravans. The 

 Mucassequeres may be styled the true savages of South 

 Tropical Africa. They construct no dwelling-houses or 

 anything in the likeness of them. They are born under 

 the shadow of a forest-tree, and so they are content to 

 die. They despise alike the rains which deluge the earth 

 and the sun which burns it ; and bear the rigours of the 

 seasons with the same stoicism as the wild beasts. In 

 some respects they would seem to be even below the wild 

 denizens of the jungle, for the lion and tiger have at least 

 a cave or den in which they seek shelter, whilst the 

 Mucassequeres have neither. As they never cultivate 

 the ground, implements of agriculture are entirely un- 

 known among them; roots, honey, and the animals 

 caught in the chase constitute their food, and each tribe 

 devotes its entire time to hunting for roots, honey and 

 game. They rarely sleep to-day where they lay down 

 yesterday. The arrow is their only weapon ; but so 

 dexterous are they in its use, that an animal sighted is as 

 good as bagged. Even the elephant not unfrequently 



1 h= (ju.. 



falls a prey to these dexterous hunters, v.hose arrows find 



every vulnerable point in his otherwise impervious hide. 

 The two races which inhabit this country are as different 



