224 SOCIAL MODE OF EATING. 



They "bring forth also large pots and bowls of thick milk; 

 some contain six or eight gallons ; and each of these, as well as 

 of the beer, is given to a particular person, who has the power 

 to divide it with whom he pleases. The head man of any section 

 of the tribe is generally selected for this office. Spoons not be- 

 ing generally in fashion, the milk is conveyed to the mouth with 

 the hand. I often presented my friends with iron spoons, and 

 it was curious to observe how the habit of hand-eating prevailed, 

 though they were delighted with the spoons. They lifted out a 

 little with the utensil, then put it on the left hand, and ate it out 

 of that. 



As the Makololo have great abundance of cattle, and the chief 

 is expected to feed all who accompany him, he either selects an 

 ox or two of his own from the numerous cattle stations that he 

 possesses at different spots all over the country, or is presented 

 by the head men of the villages he visits with as many as he 

 needs by way of tribute. The animals are killed by a thrust 

 from a small javelin in the region of the heart, the wound being 

 purposely small in order to avoid any loss of blood, which, with 

 the internal parts, are the perquisites of the men who perform 

 the work of the butcher ; hence all are eager to render service 

 in that line. Each tribe has its own way of cutting up and dis- 

 tributing an animal. Among the Makololo the hump and ribs 

 belong to the chief; among the Bakwains the breast is his per- 

 quisite. After the oxen are cut up, the different joints are placed 

 before Sekeletu, and he apportions them among the gentlemen 

 of the party. The whole is rapidly divided by their attendants, 

 cut into long strips, and so many of these are thrown into the 

 fires at once that they are nearly put out. Half broiled and 

 burning hot, the meat is quickly handed round ; every one gets a 

 mouthful, but no one except the chief has time to masticate. It 

 is not the enjoyment of eating they aim at, but to get as much 

 of the food into the stomach as possible during the short time 

 the others are cramming as well as themselves, for no one can 

 eat more than a mouthful after the others have finished. They 

 are eminently gregarious in their eating; and, as they despise 

 any one who eats alone, I always poured out two cups of coffee 

 at my own meals, so that the chief, or some one of the principal 

 men, might partake along with me. They all soon become very 



