Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/573

 Zandehs, who nevertheless, unlike the Bongos, did not even wear an ox-tail which, at a distance, might present the appearance of a natural appendix. Still less could the illusion be created by the skins of animals which they wear wrapped round the loins. But on the other hand the term Niam-Niam, or "eaters," applied also, however, by the Nubians to numerous other tribes, is certainly justified by the cannibalistic practices at least of some of the Zandeh communities, Piaggia, who was the first to traverse the Nilotic section of their domain in 1863-65,

noticed only one instance of cannibalism, that of a slain enemy, who was shared amongst the victors. It seems evident that on the whole the Zandehs are far less addicted to the habit than the Monbuttus, although amongst most of the tribes the tradition prevails of eating captives and those who die friendless. All bodies, except those tainted by some skin complaint, are regarded as good for the table. Even those who abstain from human flesh are extremely carnivorous, living mainly on dogs, game, and poultry, for they raise no large domestic animals. It is characteristic that amongst their essentially agricultural and frugivorous Bongo