310 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Smoking . — Tobacco is used to a great extent for smoking, but it 
is not chewed, nor used as snuff. The native name is tabba, which 
is, however, commonly used in other tribes also. I believe the 
tobacco smoked to be indigenous, for none is imported. It is very 
good, but exceedingly strong. It is cultivated, and the leaves, 
being sun-dried and broken up in small pieces, are then mixed with 
a small proportion of dried cows’ dung and urine, and moulded into 
conical cakes, weighing about J lb. to 1 lb. each. These cakes are 
dried in the sun, and stored away in baskets hung up in the huts. 
Two kinds of pipes are used, both made of clay. One measures 
about six inches long, with a very thick stem and oval bowl ; the stem 
is not put into the mouth, but the lips are pressed round the hole in 
it. The other pipe is itself small, but has a wooden stem about three 
feet long ; this pipe is rarely carried about, but smoked in or near 
the huts. The pipe is ignited by burning charcoal being placed on 
the top of the tobacco; a flaming stick is never used. Two small 
sticks serve as tongs to take the bit of charcoal from the fire. 
Water pipes are unknown, and I have not heard of any substitute 
for tobacco ; as that plant grows in great profusion, I should not 
imagine that one would be required. The people smoke a great deal, 
but do not carry the practice to any injurious degree. Other nar- 
cotics are to the best of my belief unknown. A root, however, is 
sometimes chewed, which has the repute of exciting sexual passion. 
Agricidture . — A large area of land is cultivated. After the forest 
has been cleared away by felling and burning, the ground is hoed. 
Hoeing and weeding are the only processes which it undergoes. 
There is no irrigation, but the soil is prepared for the seed as soon 
as the first rain falls, after which there is plenty of water. The land 
is usually marked out in long narrow strips by large stones placed 
at equal distances. Each man cultivates his own land ; and if it is 
of considerable extent, and requires more hands than his family can 
give, he calls in the aid of his friends and neighbours. On such 
occasions no pay is given or expected, but all are ready to give and 
receive help in this way. 
The hoeing is done by men, and the hoes used are made of iron 
with wooden handles. The process of weeding is delegated to the 
women, and there are three kinds of hoes used for the purpose. 
Sometimes they kneel down between the rows of corn, and use a 
