DRINKING. 



93 



round an old pit till water collects, rather than 

 sink it a few feet. Thus they idle away three 

 days, and they rest from non-lahour on the 

 fourth, called Juna, from Jum'a the Moslem 

 ' sabhath.' This, as amongst the Dahomans and 

 other African tribes, is their week. Spare time 

 is passed mostly in drunkenness, induced by 

 Tembo or palm- wine, and with stronger liquors, 

 when they can get them. They begin the pota- 

 tions early in the morning, and after midday they 

 are seldom sober, except for want of material. 

 The tom-tom is hardly ever silent : as amongst 

 the Somal and the Wasawahili, it sounds at all 

 times, seasons, and occasions : and they dance, 

 accompanying themselves with loud cries, even 

 to expel the bad ghost from the body of a be- 

 witched friend. They have also the Dahoman 

 rattle, an empty gourd or cocoa-nut, filled with 

 pebbles and provided with a handle : this is the 

 celebrated ' Tamaraka ' idol worshipped by the 

 Tupy-Guarani tribes, between the Gulf of Mexico 

 and the Rio de la Plata. The music is simple, 

 and they are contented to recitative for the live- 

 long night such merum nectar as — 



' Kitosi mulalani ka-uka.' 



' The bird from the palm starts not.' 



