IN AYESTEllN AFRICA. 
19 
CHAPTEE VI. 
COOKING, EATING, BATHING. 
Their cooking, as to thoroughness and cleanli- 
ness, — when they are cleanly,— is not so objection- 
able as are some of the articles of food used. 
The only cooking-utensils they have are iron 
pots; and ordinarily they have a large one in 
which to boil rice, and a smaller one in Avhich to 
prepare animal food, or vegetables. 
Before eating, they usually mix with the rice 
whatever else they may have, often turning the 
contents of the smaller pot into the larger, stirring 
all together; then taking it out into other vessels, 
if they have them, which seldom is the case, 
they give to each his portion. They eat with 
wooden spoons, if they have them — but this is 
rarely the case. They stand, or sit, or lie at 
their meals, as their inclination may prompt. 
They know nothing of the use of tables. 
The more common way of eating is to gather 
around the pot, and convey the food from it to 
