268 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



a piece of barkcloth round the shoulder and 

 strips from the waist ; their arms and legs are 

 covered with coils of wire, and many wear a small 

 piece of ivory from a necklace. When two meet 

 they salute one another by interlacing their ringers 

 and murmuring a long formal salutation. If a 

 woman salutes a man, he embraces her under the 



Fig. 38. — Bananas in Mubuku Valley. 



armpits, and both murmur a salutation with the 

 greatest propriety. 



Politeness is always most marked in lawless and 

 dangerous countries. 



As to their character, they are certainly liars of 

 the most perfect description. I had no opportunity 

 of learning to know them well. 



Mwesi appears to be a boy of some twelve 



