1892.] S, E. Peal — Communal Barracks af Primitive Races. 261 



In the case of " Taipi," we see a tribe confined to a valley 9 or 10 

 miles long by 1 or 2 wide, living on bread-frnit, plantains, cocoanuts, 

 yams, growing spontaneously ; no cultivation, and possessing no cattle : 

 only the pig ; their houses scattered among the trees, not grouped into 

 villages ; and having perpetual feud with Happar and Nukuhiva, adjoin- 

 ing tribes, eating these enemies when slain. The absence of marriage 

 except in a rudimentary (endogamic) form, the complete sexual liberty, 

 utter ignorance of modesty, and remarkable development of the Ti, or 

 barracks tabu to women, are as singular as the general happiness and 

 plenty, absence of sickness and crime. 



For many years past an obscure relation has been observed in 

 many ways between the Indo-Pacific region and East Africa ; it crops 

 up in several matters, and hence we need not be surprized at finding 

 that, in variously modified foi'ms, our communal barracks for the un- 

 manned are seen among the Massai and other races. Dr. Parkes noticed 

 them on the Congo. In the Proceedings, B. G. S. for December, 1884, 

 page 701, Mr. Joseph Thomson says: — "The most remarkable distinc- 

 tions characterise the various epochs in the life-history of the Massai. 

 The boys and girls up to a certain age live with their parents, and feed 

 upon meat, grain, and curdled milk. At the age of 12 with the girls, 

 and 12 to 11 with the boys, they are sent from the married men's Krai, 

 to one in which there are only unmarried young men and women. 

 There they live in a very indiscribable manner till they are married." 



" At this stage the men are warriors and their sole occupation is 

 cattle-lifting and amusing themselves at home. The young women 

 attend to the cattle and build the huts, and perform other necessary 

 household duties. So pleasant does the Massai warrior find this 

 life that he seldom marries till he has passed the prime of life and 

 finds his strength decline. The great war spear and heavy buffalo- 

 hide shield, the sword and the knobkerry are laid aside. For a time — ■ 

 a month — he dons the dress of an unmarried woman, and thereafter 

 becomes a staid and respectable member of Massai society." The habits 

 of this strange tribe are purely nomadic, they move about according- 

 to the pastures. Their houses are formed of bent boughs, plastered 

 with dung." 



Again Mr. D. K. Cross, in the Proceedings, B. Q. S. February 1891, 

 page 87, referring to the Awamwamba of Nyassaland, thus describes 

 the village houses of the unmarried people : — " the unmarried men or 

 *' waken ja" as they are called, live in long-shaped houses often 50 feet 

 or 60 in length built of bamboo. No man is allowed to marry till he is 

 about 30, and able to buy a wife. The herds are kept in separate 

 houses which are long like those of the unmarried men." 

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