270 TRAVELS IN THE 
part of the ceremony being ended, the father of the child 
divided the dega into a number of balls, one of which he 
distributed to every person present. And inquiry was then 
made if any person in the town was dangerously sick, it being 
usual in such cases, to send the party a large portion of the 
dega ; which is thought to possess great medical virtues.* 
Among the Negroes every individual, besides his own proper 
name, has likewise a kontong, or surname, to denote the family 
or clan to which he belongs. Some of these families are 
very numerous and powerful. It is impossible to enumerate the 
various kontongs which are found in different parts of the 
country ; though the knowledge of many of them is of great 
service to the traveller ; for as every Negro plumes himself 
upon the importance, or the antiquity of his clan, he is much 
flattered when he is addressed by his kontong. 
Salutations, among the Negroes to each other, when they 
meet, are always observed ; but those in most general use 
among the Kafirs, are Abbe baeretto, — E ning seni, — AnawarU 
&c. all of which have nearly the same meaning, and signify, are 
you well, or to that effect. There are likewise salutations which 
are used at different times of the day, as, E ning somo, good 
morning, &c. The general answer to all salutations, is to 
repeat the kontong of the person who salutes, or else to re- 
peat the salutation itself, first pronouncing the word marhaba, 
my friend. 
* Soon after baptism, the children are marked in different parts of the skin, in a 
manner resembling what is called tatowing in the South-sea Islands. 
