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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



FILKD TKIiTH O:^ THK AT CHOPI NATlVJ^ 



This custom is practiced b}^ comparatively few members of this tribe and is undoubtedly 

 in imitation of some of the tribes of Zambesia. The woman being usually right-handed, 

 prefers to carry the child on the left hip, where it is not so much in the way while at work; 

 hence the left breast is usually slightly elongated. 



player was decidedly inadequate to the 

 feat. All the notes from whatever style 

 of marimba are in the minor scale. This 

 form of musical instrument appears to 

 be used only by the M'chopi tribe and 

 their immediate neighbors, who are only 

 poor imitators. The drum-stick carries a 

 lump of native "landolthia". 

 The warriors in the dance, who may 



number 300 or more, constantly drop in 

 their tracks and pretend to be smitten 

 with death. The witch doctor then passes 

 around, sprinkling them with medicine, 

 whereupon all gradually resume their 

 places and the dance continues. This 

 dance is said to be as old as the tribe, 

 which is probably the oldest Kafir tribe 

 in East Africa. Their language is quite 



