Africa . oad as long, a smallmouth with very wide lips,and seldom exceeding the lineof the nose, a round chin and ;full cheeks, a short, earthy-red «.coloured figure, inclined to cor- ypulence, and a not very strongly --:marked muscular system, com- mplete the physical picture of the ?JNyamnyam type. In this district towns orvillages are nowhere to beseen. The huts, grouped inlittle hamlets, and occupied each by a single family, are found scattered widely overthe cultivated land ; even the court of a chieftain con-sists merely of a larger number of huts, in which he andhis wives reside. In app
Africa . oad as long, a smallmouth with very wide lips,and seldom exceeding the lineof the nose, a round chin and ;full cheeks, a short, earthy-red «.coloured figure, inclined to cor- ypulence, and a not very strongly --:marked muscular system, com- mplete the physical picture of the ?JNyamnyam type. In this district towns orvillages are nowhere to beseen. The huts, grouped inlittle hamlets, and occupied each by a single family, are found scattered widely overthe cultivated land ; even the court of a chieftain con-sists merely of a larger number of huts, in which he andhis wives reside. In appearance these huts resemblethose of the Bongos above described, only the conical roofis higher and more pointed. Peculiarly constructed littlehuts, or bamogih, as they are called, with bell-shapedroofs, are set apart as sleeping-rooms for the half-grown-upyouths of the more distinguished classes. The women attend to the tillage of the land and thehousehold affairs, but live a much more secluded life than. NYAMNYAM. 238 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL. their Bongo and Mittu sisters. The dignity of chieftain,which is inherited by the eldest son, brings little with itbeyond a greater share of the produce of the hunt, such asmore of the ivory and half the elephants carcase; and itis attended with no particular outward show, although thechieftain has the privilege of carrying out capital sentenceswith his own hand. The scanty costume of these peopleconsists of an apron made up mostly of various skinspatched together, and in their eyes producing a verypicturesque effect. Tattooing is limited in both sexes toa few simple figures scratched on the surface of the skin ;and, with the exception of filing the lower incisor teeth toa sharp point, to use them, it is said, as a weapon ofoffence at close quarters, the Nyamnyams do not disfigurethemselves in any way. With all their fierceness the Nyamnyam display atolerably sociable and sensitive disposition, and especiallytake great pleasur
Size: 946px × 2642px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorkeaneaha, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1878
