110 COUET ETIQUETTE. Chap. V. 



the Chief repeats a word such as " Ambuiatu " (our Father, or 

 master) — or "moio" (life), and all clap their hands. Another 

 word is followed by two claps, a third by still more clapping, 

 when each touches the ground with both hands placed 

 together. Then all rise, and lean forward with measured 

 clap, and sit down again with clap, clap, clap, fainter, and still 

 fainter till the last dies away, or is brought to an end by a 

 smart loud clap from the Chief. They keep perfect time in this 

 species of court etiquette. Our guides now tell the Chief, often 

 in blank verse, all they have already told his people, with the 

 addition perhaps of their own suspicions of the visitors. He asks 

 some questions, and then converses with us through the guides. 

 Direct communication, between the chief and the head of the 

 stranger party is not customary. In approaching they often 

 ask who is the spokesman, and the spokesman of the Chief 

 addresses the person indicated exclusively. There is no lack 

 of punctilious good manners. The accustomed presents are 

 exchanged, with civil ceremoniousness ; until our men, wearied 

 and hungry, call out, " English do not buy slaves, they 

 buy food," and then the people bring meal, maize, fowls, 

 batatas, yams, beans, beer, for sale. 



The Manganja are an industrious race ; and in addition 

 to working in iron, cotton, and basket-making, they cultivate 

 the soil extensively. All the people of a village turn out to 

 labour in the fields. It is no uncommon thing to see men, 

 women, and children hard at work, with the baby lying close by 

 beneath a shady bush. When a new piece of woodland is to 

 be cleared, they proceed exactly as farmers do in America. 

 The trees are cut down with their little axes of soft native 

 iron ; trunks and branches are piled up and burnt, and 

 the ashes spread on the soil. The corn is planted among 

 the standing stumps which are left to rot. If grass land 



