April.] OUR RESIDENCE AT LATTAKOO 91 
bent as to form a roof, which rests upon a pillar 
placed in the middle of the house. The whole is 
neatly covered with thorn-branches twisted to- 
gether. The inhabitants of the second we vi- 
sited presented us with a large calabash, full of 
thickened churned milk, which we felt very cool- 
ing. On entering the third, we were introduced to 
the Captain of the district, who was seated on a 
quacha's skin, which is striped like that of the 
zebra. His beard was black, and about an inch 
long on his upper lip and on the lower part of 
his chin. The skin of a long serpent was wrapped 
round his head, and the head of the animal hung 
over his brow. I emptied into his hand the con- 
tents of a small snuff-box, which I generally 
carried on purpose for distribution. He imme- 
diately sent part of it to his wives, and divided 
the rest with a knife among his principal men, 
what adhered to his hand was drawn up very 
clean by an aged man. Mr. Moffat then pre- 
sented him with an English clay pipe and a piece 
of tobacco which pleased him much. He soon 
brought us a calabash full of thick milk ; but the 
hole in the side, being only about four inches long 
by two-and-a-half, I felt it impossible to reach it. 
On observing this, the chief sent for wooden 
spoons and presented each of us with one. When 
we wei'e satisfied, the calabash went round among 
the people till it was emptied. 
