THE SOKO. 
but place the hand on the head, as if to steady the body. When seen thus the Soko is an ungainly 
beast. The most sentimental young lady would not call him a ‘ dear/ but a bandy-legged, pot-bellied, low- 
looking villain, without a particle of the gentleman in him. Other animals, especially the Antelopes, 
are graceful, and it is pleasant to see them, either at rest or in motion ; the natives also are well made, 
lithe and comely to behold ; but the Soko, if large, would do well to stand for a picture of the devil. 
He takes away my appetite by his disgusting bestiality of appearance. His light yellow face shows off 
his ugly whiskers and faint apology for a beard ; the forehead, villainously low, with high ears, is well 
in the background of the great dog-mouth ; the teeth are slightly human, but the canines show the 
beast by their large development. The hands, or rather the fingers, are like those of the natives. 
The flesh of the feet is yellow ; and the eagerness with which the Manyuema devour it, leaves the 
PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG SOKO. (Copied by permission from the Engraving in Livitujxtone'slast Journal.) 
impression that eating Sokos was the first stage by which they arrived at being cannibals ; they say 
the flesh is delicious. The Soko is represented by some to be extremely knowing, successfully 
stalking men and women while at their work ; kidnapping children, and running up trees with 
them, he seems to be amused by the sight of the young native in his arms, but comes down 
when tempted by a bunch of bananas, and as lie lifts that, drops the child ; the young Soko, in such a 
case, would cling closely to the armpit of the elder. One man was cutting out honey from a tree, 
and naked, when a Soko suddenly appeared and caught him, then let him go ; another man was 
hunting, and missed in his attempt to stab a Soko; it seized the spear, and broke it, then grappled with 
the man, who called to his companions, 1 Soko has caught me!’ The Soko bit off the ends of his fingers, 
and escaped unharmed. Both men are now alive at Bambarre. ” 
“ The Soko is so cunning, and has such sharp eyes, that no one can stalk him in front without being 
seen ; hence, when shot, it is always in the back ; ■when surrounded by men and nets, he is generally 
speared in the back too, otherwise he is not a very formidable beast. He is nothing, as compared in 
power of damaging his assailant, to a Leopard or Lion, but is more like a man unarmed, for it does not 
