Our Guides Then Sit Down In Front Of The
Chief And His Counsellors, And Both Parties Lean Forward, Looking
Earnestly
At each other; the chief repeats a word, such as "Ambuiatu"
(our Father, or master) - or "moio" (life), and all
Clap their hands.
Another word is followed by two claps, a third by still more
clapping, when each touches the ground with both hands placed
together. Then all rise and lean forward with measured clap, and sit
down again with clap, clap, clap, fainter, and still fainter, till
the last dies away, or is brought to an end by a smart loud clap from
the chief. They keep perfect time in this species of court
etiquette. Our guides now tell the chief, often in blank verse, all
they have already told his people, with the addition perhaps of their
own suspicions of the visitors. He asks some questions, and then
converses with us through the guides. Direct communication between
the chief and the head of the stranger party is not customary. In
approaching they often ask who is the spokesman, and the spokesman of
the chief addresses the person indicated exclusively. There is no
lack of punctilious good manners. The accustomed presents are
exchanged with civil ceremoniousness; until our men, wearied and
hungry, call out, "English do not buy slaves, they buy food," and
then the people bring meal, maize, fowls, batatas, yams, beans, beer,
for sale.
The Manganja are an industrious race; and in addition to working in
iron, cotton, and basket-making, they cultivate the soil extensively.
All the people of a village turn out to labour in the fields.
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