344 
Proceedings of the Royal Soeiety 
no little commotion, often killing or wounding several of the hunts- 
men. When an animal is killed, it is the prize of the man who 
first shoots it, though its death is probably accomplished by others. 
The right of possession does not appear to he decided by dis- 
tinguishing arrow marks, but great care is taken to identify the 
shooter, and quarrels often arise about it, and are frequently 
only settled by a fight. It is virtually a case of much ado about 
nothing, for this right, which is so jealously guarded, concerns only 
the tail or the horns of the animal, which are kept as a trophy. 
Any one who has taken part in a hunt has a perfect right to his 
share in the booty, which is shared alike by all, each man getting 
an almost equal part of the spoil. Even should one party be more 
successful than another, the unlucky hunters get the same share 
as those who have been successful. Should an animal be first shot 
with a borrowed bow and arrow, the lender gets the trophy ; but 
such transactions only take place between brothers or very intimate 
friends. Successful hunters are long kept in remembrance, and 
their exploits are handed down from father to son. 
The Madis do not appear to have any special ceremonies or 
dances connected with their hunting expeditions, but in subsequent 
dances, those who have been distinguished in hunting, or women 
who have been very active in giving water to the men and won 
special renown, are celebrated in song, hlo great feast takes place 
after a hunt, but friends are sometimes invited in small parties to 
eat buffalo, &c. 
Before going to the hunt the men paint their faces in stripes of 
different colours, and put iron rings on their necks, arms, and (some- 
times) ankles, and the white tail of some animal round their necks. 
They carry their arrows in a goat-skin bag, hung over the shoulder 
or by a string which passes round the neck. In the left hand they 
hold the bow and two or three arrows; in the right hand they carry 
the spear. They start very early, so as to reach the hunting ground 
soon after sunrise, and they hunt all day. The women start later, 
carrying water on their heads in earthen jars, in the neck of which 
bunches of leaves are placed to keep the water cool. A small 
gourd floats on the top of the water to keep it from spilling, and 
serves as a drinking-horn. 
These large hunting parties are only undertaken in the hunting 
