496 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
it is composed is carried out of the enclosure and 
scattered about the jungle. 
From what has been already explained, it is scarcely 
necessary to say that the death of a Soya is always 
produced by sorcery or witchcraft, and that some 
unfortunate has to pay with his life, not for the sorcery, 
which he never committed, but the private vengeance 
of one of the Maeotas. No sooner is the death of the 
Sova announced, than the people rush madly about, and 
for some days not only strip and pilfer all persons who 
are met with in the neighbourhood of the capital, but 
make captives of the strangers themselves, and subse- 
GANGUELLA, LUIMBA AND LOENA WOMEN—METHOD OF SHAPING THE INCISORS. 
quently dispose of them for slaves. The Maeotas then 
seek out the rightful heir and accompany him to the 
Libata grande or capital; on his arrival, however, he 
does not at first penetrate the lombe or inner enclosure, 
but takes up his residence among the people, living, for 
a time, as one of them. No sooner, however, has the 
heir-apparent entered the Libata, than two bands of 
huntsmen issue forth, one in search of an antelope 
(Catoblepas taurina), and the other of a human victim. 
An antelope being started, a member of the former of 
the two bands fires at the animal and at once takes 
to flight, his companions rushing forward to cut off the 
creature’s head, for should this be done by the hunts¬ 
man who shot it down, he would be at once assassinated 
