BANTU NEGROES 



735 



wood placed upriglit in a serried row. Tlie roof is large and low spreading, 

 not very Ingh at the apex (the hut of course is round) and with a very 

 low Y>itch. The apex of the roof is surmounted by a carved pole (often 

 stuck through an earthenware pot), and this pole is obviously a pJudliis. 

 A'ery freipiently the pole is run through the skull of an antelope. 



The cookiii;/ is done inside the house, and hf/ ivome/n. Only if a jiarty 

 of Kavirond<.) is on the road and it is a case of force ■vuijeare will the 

 men do the cooking and make tlieir kitchen in the open if no shelter is 

 obtainable. The cooking vessels, of course, are earthen pots. The Jood, 



3y2. IN .1 KAVIKOMiO VlLL.iCE 



wlien cooked, is served u[> in small liaskcts. A father does not eat witli 

 his sons, nor do brothers eat together; women invariably partake of their 

 food after the men have done. \o woman would eat with a man under 

 ordinarv circumstances. They are rather more omnivorous than most of 

 the other tribes in the L'ganda Protectorate. A g(wd deal of grain 

 (sorghum, eleusine. and maize) is caltivated. and the flour of sorghum is 

 a considerable staple in their diet. fJananas. beans, and peas are also 

 cultivated and eaten. It is said tliat tlie cultivation <if tlie lianana is <in 

 the increase. At the time the prcM-nt writer pa-sed thmugh the 

 Kavirondo cotuitrv he was struck with the magnificent fields of sor(/Iiina 



