Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/534

470 When ordinary people or equals meet, they each clap once only, and relatives also only clap once to each other. Strangers meeting simply clap hands to each other. I have seen the following salutation between acquaintances:—The men have met and deliberately sat down, clapped to each other, crossed their hands so that the right hand of each took the left hand of the other, raised their hands, and finally dropped them loosely. This clapping and touching of hands they repeated solemnly three times, and then began to talk.

In saying good-bye to each other, they pretend to spit on the forehead and hands of the departing one, and on some grass which, after being spat upon, they stick in the hair of the beloved one leaving them. This is to bring good luck and keep away evil spirits.

Men on returning from a journey, or on paying a visit to a town, are greeted with "tukayisi" (welcome), or "tusambwidif" (blessing), and they reply "ingeta" or "inga" (yes, sir). Sometimes the greeting will be "tumonana" (we see each other), when each will clap three times. The women greet with "tumiangana" (prettiness, smartness).

If the king wants to be disrespectful in receiving the homage paid to him, he will simply put out only one hand, and wave the fingers; if he resents the homage, he puts out one foot and moves the toes, which is a sign of coming trouble.

Ordinary villagers meeting during the day say "kiambote" (good), and, if it is the morning, they add "olele kwaku?" (did you sleep?) The answer is "ndele kwame" (I did sleep). To sleep is regarded as a sign of good health. When separating during the day, the one going says to the one remaining "sala kiambote" (remain well), and the remaining one says to the one going "wenda kiambote" (go well). If it is evening, the farewell greeting is "sala leka kiambote" (remain, and sleep well), and