206 
SOCIAL MODE OF EATING, 
Chap. XI. 
They bring forth also large pots and bowls of thick milk; 
some contain six or eight gallons; and each of these, as well as 
of the beer, is given to a particidar person, who has the power to 
divide it with whom he pleases. The head man of any section 
of the tribe is generally selected for this office. Spoons not 
being generally in fashion, the milk is conveyed to the mouth 
with the hand. I often presented my friends with iron spoons, 
and it was ciu’ious to observe how the habit of hand-eating pre¬ 
vailed, though they were delighted with the spoons. They lifted 
out a little with the utensil, then put it on the left hand, and ate 
it out of that. 
As the Makololo have gTeat abundance of cattle, and the chief 
is expected to feed all who accompany him, he either selects an 
ox or two of his own from the nmnerous cattle stations that he 
possesses at different spots all over the country, or is presented 
by the headmen of the villages he visits with as many as he 
needs by way of tribute. The animals are killed by a thrust 
from a small javelin in the region of the heart, the wound being 
purposely small in order to avoid any loss of blood, which, with 
the internal parts, are the perquisites of the men who perform 
the work of the butcher; hence all are eager to render service 
in that line. Each tribe has its own way of cutting up and dis¬ 
tributing an animal. Among the Makololo the hump and ribs 
belong to the chief; among the Bakwains the breast is his per¬ 
quisite. After the oxen are cut up, the different joints are placed 
before Sekeletu, and he apportions them among the gentlemen 
of the party. The whole is rapidly divided by their attendants, 
cut into long strips, and so many of these are thrown into the 
fires at once that they are nearly put out. Half broiled and 
burning hot the meat is quickly handed round; every one gets a 
mouthful, but no one except the chief has time to masticate. It 
is not the enjoyment of eating they aim at, but to get as much 
of the food into the stomach as possible during the short time 
the others are cramming as well as themselves, for no one can 
eat more than a mouthful after the others have finished. They 
are eminently gregarious in their eating; and, as they despise 
any one who eats alone, I always poured out two cups of coffee 
at my own meals, so that the chief, or some one of the principal 
men, might partake along with me. They aU soon become very 
