502 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
old, and a white-liaired ancient is a present fit for a 
Sova or a wealthy native chief who is going to give a 
banquet. 
The sovereigns of the Bilie frequently hold high 
festival in their libatas called the “ Feast of the 
Quissunge,” at which are immolated and devoured five 
persons ; viz. one man and four women, who may be 
thus classified : one woman who makes pipkins; another 
just delivered of her first child; another who has a 
goitre (a common complaint in the country) ; and 
another who makes baskets. The man must be a deer- 
liunter. The victims being taken are decapitated and 
their heads cast into the jungle. The bodies are 
brought into the lombe or inner enclosure of the royal 
residence, where they are quartered, and an ox being 
killed, its flesh is cooked with the human flesh, partly 
by roasting and partly boiling in capata ; so that every¬ 
thing which appears at the banquet is mixed with human 
blood. As soon as this sinister and repugnant meal is 
ready, the Sova sends out notice that he is about to 
begin the Quissunge, and all the inhabitants of the 
place hurriedly flock to the entertainment. The 
Bihenos, among other strange tastes, are passionately 
fond of termites or white ants, and destroy their habi¬ 
tations to seize and eat them raw. The people when 
at home are thorough thieves, and lay their hands upon 
anything which comes in their way ; abroad, however, 
they not only abstain from pilfering, but, as carriers, 
are most faithful to their packs. Should a caravan 
happen to camp in the Bihe, while passing through the 
country, notice should at once be given to the chief 
who owns the land, accompanied by some trifling 
present; in default of which the inhabitants of the 
neighbouring village would be authorised to pilfer 
whatsoever they could lay hands on. The present, 
however, being made to the land-owner, he becomes at 
once responsible for anything that is missing. It is a 
matter of necessity also to make a present, or rather 
pay tribute ( quibanda ), to the Sovereign. It is not 
advisable to make this offering too costly a one, for his 
