Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/329

 THE BA-LUNDAS. 259 The primitive population of the country, who are also of Bantu speech, are known by the name of lia-Kuba, that is, " Serfs; " but their own tribal designa- tion is the more dignified Ba-Yeye, or "men." These Ba-Yeye, who according to Chapman number as many as two hundred thousand altogether, are a peaceful, honest, and industrious people, who are chiefly occupied with fishing, hunting, and collecting salt from the surrounding salines. Their pursuits requiring them to be constantly wading about in the shallow waters, they have become attached to their swampy fens and lagoons, even founding their settlements in the midst of the reeds. The Ba-Yeye are very superstitious, and like the Damaras worship or invoke certain " mother trees." Amongst them, as amongst most of the neighbouring tribes, the stranger has to chot>se a friend, who becomes answerable for his conduct to the community, and who provides him with food, an ox, and a wife in exchange for his commodities. East of the Amboellas the whole of the alternately dry and swampy Lobale plains, as well as the Upper Zambese basin, are inhabited by the Ba-Lundas, who are akin to the Ka-Lundas of the Congo basin, and who officially recognise the suzerainty of the Muata Yamvo, although their chiefs are practically independent. The national usages are much the same on both sides of the waterparting between the Zambese and the Congo basins. The southern Ba-Luudas file their teeth and tattoo their bodies like the northern Ka-Lundas ; like them, also, they go nearly naked, smearing themselves with the oils extracted from various oleaginous vegetable substances as substitutes for the more highly valued fat of oxen, which, when por- curable, is reserved for the chiefs. As on the banks of the Kassai, the prevailing ornament amongst the Upper Zambese populations is brass wire. Great personages appear in public with their legs laden with this metallic encumbrance, the fashion requiring them to walk swaying heavily from side to side, as if a great effort were needed to raise the foot. Etiquette is strictly enforced amongst the excessively ceremonious Ba-Lunda people. On meeting a superior in social rank everyone hastens to fall on his knees and rub his breast and arms with dust. Endless prostrations, all regulated by established custom, are exacted of those approaching the king, who is seated on a throne holding in his hand a fly-whisk made of gnu-tails. Both the Christian and Mohammedan styles of salutation have penetrated into the country, following in the track of the traders. Thus some of the Ba-Lundas salute strangers with a low bow accompanied by the expression " Ave-ria," a corruption of " Ave Maria," while others utter the word " Allah ! " as an exclamation of surprise. Thanks to the fertility of their always abundantly watered territory, the Ba-Lundas enjoy a superfluity of provisions, which they willingly share with their visitors. Profusely hospitable, they are at the same time of a peaceful, genial dis- position. No trace of cannibalism has been discovered amongst them ; neither do they slaughter women or children to accompany the departed chief to the other world. The Ba-Lunda women enjoy a relatively large share of liberty, the wives of the elders always taking part in the tribal deliberations, while many commu- nities are even governed by queens. At the death of these queens, the royal