The Tanganyka Territory . befalls him. Thenhe bewails his misfortune, but if after this renewedexperience he be again told to support the stemswith pronged poles he will still ignore the advice,listlessly ascribing any further damage to the willof God. It is the same with questions of food. After a recordharvest the village will gorge itself for a lengthy period,and will make strenuous efforts to dissipate the surplusby brewing large quantities of beer. To put aside fora possible future shortage some of the lavish crop wouldbe a measure of prudence that would not commenditself to native opinio
The Tanganyka Territory . befalls him. Thenhe bewails his misfortune, but if after this renewedexperience he be again told to support the stemswith pronged poles he will still ignore the advice,listlessly ascribing any further damage to the willof God. It is the same with questions of food. After a recordharvest the village will gorge itself for a lengthy period,and will make strenuous efforts to dissipate the surplusby brewing large quantities of beer. To put aside fora possible future shortage some of the lavish crop wouldbe a measure of prudence that would not commenditself to native opinion. Eat, drink and be merry and Take no thought for the morrow are mottoesthat appeal to the African mind. While touching this question of famine, it is interestingto notice that at such times many tribes burn withfire-brands the beaks and claws of fowls, in order todeprive them of the desire to peck the grains of maizeor millet that fall from the wooden mortar in whichthe grain is stamped. That the birds should be treated. AX UXHAPPY PET. To faee p. 133, INDIFFERENCE AND CARELESSNESS 133 in this cruel fashion is not as strange as the fact thateven in times of real hunger natives refuse to kill theirpoultry. Indeed, the traveller often asks himself thequestion why the black man keeps fowls, for never isone seen to figure on the menu of the family. In many cases, too, they forbear to slaughter theiroxen, though there be no food in the kraal. At thetime of the rinderpest epidemic throughout Centraland South Africa many instances came to light of nativeheadmen steadfastly refusing to kill their few remainingcattle for food, even though their villagers were starvingto death. The loss of an ox was of much more import-ance than the demise of a neighbour. Likewise it isno uncommon occurrence for an African to be muchmore anxious about the recovery of a sick cow thanabout the outcome of an illness which has prostratedone of his wives. Such indifference to the sufferings of others is clo
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