. The Victoria Nyanza; the land, the races and their customs, with specimens of some of the dialects . ourite industry. In the east of Ussu- USSUKUMA 147 Pombc. kuma the soil does not seem favourable for the growthof mtama, as it is but rarely met with. Afterharvest-time the granaries are full to bursting, T°bacco>and if the rainfall is at all tolerable there is nota trace of scarcity anywhere to be seen. From thehuge quantities of mtama the Wassukuma brewpombe—their favourite beer—which is kept inlarge jars. Wicker filters, with patterns, are usedfor straining and clarifying this beverage(
. The Victoria Nyanza; the land, the races and their customs, with specimens of some of the dialects . ourite industry. In the east of Ussu- USSUKUMA 147 Pombc. kuma the soil does not seem favourable for the growthof mtama, as it is but rarely met with. Afterharvest-time the granaries are full to bursting, T°bacco>and if the rainfall is at all tolerable there is nota trace of scarcity anywhere to be seen. From thehuge quantities of mtama the Wassukuma brewpombe—their favourite beer—which is kept inlarge jars. Wicker filters, with patterns, are usedfor straining and clarifying this beverage(Fig. 198). The corn is pounded in largewooden mortars, or ground upon is often cut into slices and dried inthe sun ; in this state it keeps a long Wassukuma are fond of animal of cattle are still very numerous,especially in Nera, notwithstand-ing the great destruction of cattlewrought by the rinderpest. Horned cattleare killed only on rare occasions ; goats,which are kept in great numbers,are killed more frequently. TheWassukuma also eat poultry, and differ in. Fig. 1 B E e r ■ sieve, Massansa. that respect from other tribes ; the eggs (III. E., 5616.) , t . r v i- are never eaten, but are kept tor meat, whether of cattle, goats, or poultry, is boiledin water, or cut in slices, which are then fixed in rowsupon rods and roasted before the fire. It is not exactlyappetizing to watch a Wassukuma boiling pieces of meatwith the skin still adhering to them, as I myself haveoften observed when out hunting. The salt necessary toflavour the food is brought from the Vembear steppesin large packages (Fig. 199). Fowls, besides beingarticles of food, are also used for oracles. The live birdis held belly upwards by one man, whilst another ripsit open, and the oracular utterance is pronounced fromthe position of the entrails. Such chicken oracle is 10—2 148 VICTORIA NYANZA questioned at the death of a man, to ascertain whethersome person a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidvict, booksubjectethnology
