306 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
scribed above. This roof is kept in place by three poles which pass 
through its outer rim, and are fixed into the ground below, apart 
from the walls. 
The lower part of this building is used as a kitchen, and contains 
a number of large stones for crushing corn, and jars for holding it. 
Meat is also hung from the ceiling. The dhurra can only be taken 
out of the granary from above. The roof is pushed up with a long 
pole, which when rested on the ground keeps it raised ; a woman 
then ascends from outside by means of one of the three supporting 
poles, which is a kind of ladder, for it is made of a tree stem, the 
broken stumps of branches forming the steps. 
Gardens . — Flowers are cultivated close round the dwelling huts, 
but the garden, which seems to be an indispensable belonging, lies 
behind the hut, covers generally a large extent of ground, and is 
devoted to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. The beds are 
circular and raised about 3 feet, falling abruptly to the ground all 
round. Melons, gourds, and vegetable marrows are grown on them, 
and creep gracefully down the sides and along the unoccupied 
ground beneath. Some beds are 3 feet wide, and of great length, 
and are planted with sogo (yams'?), which twine up a double row of 
sticks about 12 feet in height. 
A poisonous bulb, in appearance like our onion, is planted round 
the dwelling, and its leaves are put about the huts to keep away 
serpents and mosquitoes. Arrows are also poisoned with it. 
Cattle . — Cattle forms the chief wealth of the tribe. A rich man 
may have as many as 200 head, a very poor one only three or four. 
The average number possessed by one man is from thirty to forty. 
A large enclosure (or kraal) is erected for them at a short distance 
from the village, and cows belonging to different families herd 
together in one kraal. This is circular, with strong wooden walls 
and no roof. Inside there are two smaller enclosures — one for the 
calves, and one for the man in charge, the latter having a roof of 
wood and grass. A fire is made between these two divisions. 
Should the rains be very heavy, a temporary roof is constructed 
for the calves ; sometimes even, the people take them into their own 
huts. The care of the cattle is not the work of one man in par- 
ticular, but the owners take it in turns to sleep with them at night, 
and take them to grass by day. Cattle are never let out to graze 
