MESURIL. 
41 
upper lip is more conspicuous than in any other race of men I 
have seen, and the women in particular consider it as so necessary 
a feature to beauty, that they take especial care to elongate it by 
introducing into the centre a small circular piece of ivory, 
wood, or iron, as an additional ornament. The form of the females 
approximates to that of the Hottentot vromen, the spine being 
curved and the hinder parts protruding ; and indeed, to say the 
truth, it is scarcely possible to conceive a more disagreeable 
object to look at than a middle-aged v^^oman belonging to a tribe 
of the Makooa. 
Wild as the Makooa are in their savage state, it is astonishing 
to observe how docile and serviceable they become as slaves, and 
when partially admitted to freedom, by being enrolled as soldiers, 
how quickly their improvement advances, and how thoroughly 
their fidelity may be relied on. Among other enquiries, I was 
anxious to learn whether they entertain any notion of a Deity ; — 
if they do, it must be an extremely obscure one, as they have no 
other word in their language to express the idea but wherimb/* 
which signifies also the sky. This remark is equally applicable 
to the Monjou, who in the same way apply the word mo- 
lungo,'' ' sky,' to their imperfect apprehension of the Deity. 
The Makooa are fond of music and dancing, and are easily 
made happy with the sound of the tom-tom, yet, like all savages, 
their unvaried tunes and motions soon fatigue European attention, 
They have a favourite instrument called ' Ambira," the notes of 
which are very simple yet harmonious, sounding to the ear, when 
skilfully managed, like the changes upon bells. It is formed by 
a number of thin bars of iron of different lengths^ highly tern- 
