Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/128

 however, are more numerously represented, and the delicate foliage of the acacia forests looks in some places like a light haze enveloping the stems and branches of the trees. Antelopes still abound in these regions even on the route hitherto followed by most explorers along the Khor-Ergugu between Rubaga and M'ruli.

The Wa-Nyoro are a smaller people than their Wa-Ganda neighbours, to whom they also appear to be inferior in physical strength and intelligence, but not in the art of forging and pottery. They belong to the same race, and speak an allied Bantu dialect, but are of a lighter complexion, usually a dull red, and the hair is crisp rather than woolly. Although of cleanly habits, never failing to wash their hands before and after meals, their huts are badly kept, and constructed mostly of branches planted round a stake, and converging upwards so as to form a regular cone. Their only domestic animals are cows, goats, and a poor breed of poultry. In case of distemper these animals are treated by bleeding, and the blood

saved for human consumption. Like the Wa-Ganda, the Wa-Nyoro wear clothes, and consequently hold themselves superior to the naked Negro people dwelling beyond the Nile. The young men, however, do not assume their bark or skin garments before the age of puberty, when they are accepted as members of the tribe, and their new dignity celebrated by the extraction of the four lower incisors. Two lines tattooed on both sides of the forehead further distinguish them from the surrounding populations.

Polygamy is universal, even amongst the poor, who have always two or three wives, although of "inferior quality," for a handsome spouse would cost at least four cows. Asin U-Ganda, brothers may marry their sisters, fathers their daughters, while the son inherits the whole paternal harem except his own mother. The king has a general monopoly of all the unmarried women, for whom he selects husbands amongst his courtiers. The sons of these unions become royal pages,