Africa and its inhabitants . ls for the convenience of wayfarers, whohere find shelter, water, and wine, and who, if so minded, may deposit a fewcowries in return. The sociable Yorubas are almost everywhere grouped in urlxin communities,so that populous towns are numerous in their territory. Even the peasantryprefer to reside in the towns, willingly making long daily walks between theirhomes and their farms. On these they raise large quantities of maize and yams,the great staples of food, besides millet, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, pulse,ground-nuts, various species of vegetables, banana
Africa and its inhabitants . ls for the convenience of wayfarers, whohere find shelter, water, and wine, and who, if so minded, may deposit a fewcowries in return. The sociable Yorubas are almost everywhere grouped in urlxin communities,so that populous towns are numerous in their territory. Even the peasantryprefer to reside in the towns, willingly making long daily walks between theirhomes and their farms. On these they raise large quantities of maize and yams,the great staples of food, besides millet, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, pulse,ground-nuts, various species of vegetables, bananas, and other fruits. Agricultureis their chief industry, and they display great skill in extracting the palm ivine INHABITANTS OF THE SLAVE COAST. 268 from the Raphia riinfcra, which they climb with surprising agility by means ofa rope attached to the stem and brought round the body, shifting it up or downby a simple movement of the arm. There are no large estates, the land being Fig. 115.—A MoH.\sntEDA>r YoErEA regarded as belonging to all in common, or rather to the State for the benefit ofall. Hence the actual cultivator enjoys the fniits of his labour, and when heceases to work, the land reverts to the State, being then at the disiwsition of thefirst toniir willing to occupy it. 264 WEST AFRICA. The Yorubas arc also clever artisans, and every village has its potters, smiths,Fig-. UG.—Inland Sceneuy, Slave Coast.
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Keywords: ., bookauthor, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectethnology
