Chap. XXVII. CLOTHING DESPISED. 551 



seed contains so much farinaceous matter, that the natives collect 

 it for their own food. 



This part of the country abounds in ant-hills. In the open 

 parts they are studded over the surface exactly as haycocks are in 

 harvest, or heaps of manure in spring, rather disfiguring the land- 

 scape. In the woods they are as large as round haystacks, 40 or 

 50 feet in diameter at the base, and at least 20 feet high. These 

 are more fertile than the rest of the land, and here they are the 

 chief garden-ground for maize, pumpkins, and tobacco. 



"When we had jmssed the outskirting villages, which alone con- 

 sider themselves in a state of war with the Makololo, we found 

 the Batoka, or Batonga, as they here call themselves, quite 

 friendly. Great numbers of them came from all the surrounding 

 villages, with presents of maize and masuka, and expressed great 

 joy at the first appearance of a white man, and harbinger of 

 peace. The women clothe themselves better than the Balonda, 

 but the men go in puris naturalibus. They walk about without 

 the smallest sense of shame. They have even lost the tradition of 

 the " figleaf." I asked a fine large-bodied old man, if he did not 

 think it would be better to adopt a little covering. He looked with 

 a pitying leer, and laughed with surprise at my thinking him at all 

 indecent : he evidently considered himself above such weak super- 

 stition. I told them that on my return I should have my family 

 with me, and no one must come near us hi that state. " What 

 shall we put on ? we have no clothing." It was considered a good 

 joke when I told them that, if they had nothing else, they must 

 put on a bunch of grass. 



The further we advanced, the more we found the country swarm- 

 ing with inhabitants. Great numbers came to see the white man, a 

 sight they had never beheld before. They always brought presents 

 of maize and masuka. Their mode of salutation is quite singular. 

 They throw themselves on their backs on the ground, and, rolling 

 from side to side, slap the outside of their thighs as expressions of 

 thankfulness and welcome, uttering the words, "Kina bomba." 

 This method of salutation was to me very disagreeable, and I 

 never could get reconciled to it. I called out " Stop, stop ! I don't 

 want that ; " but they, imagining I was dissatisfied, only tumbled 

 about more furiously, and slapped their thighs with greater 

 vigour. The men being totally unclothed, tins performance 



