p. 124

at 8.30 and travelled about a half hour. We then walked over the hills about a mile and a half to the Kraal of the ChiefZ(Laduna) who lives in a small village but whopresides over the affairs of all the little villages we had seen. The interpreter found him a bit grumpy but finally succeeded in getting him in a more hospitable mood and we were recieved. He was clad in his every day clothes which consisted of a nice square of sheep skin hanging from his waist and which always seen to turn under him when he sat like a nice comfy rug should do. In front he wore a bunch of tails which when he sat fell between his legs. The upper part of his body was covered by a white man's under shirt, neither neat nor clean.
After a time he invited us into a hut which was probably his Mother's. It had an extra large entrance door and by stooping we could enter. Usually one must crawl. An old woman lay upon her stomach on a rush mat with a blanket over her. Three young women sat crosslegged in a row and were decked in their Sunday best. Neck and wrists and ankles were decorated with many strings of beads. The hair was wonderfully dressed and a skirt and "moutche" were wrapped about the middle. The legs from the knee down and from the navel up were exposed. These young women had come from a neighboring village to pay the chief a visitand had brought him a present of freshly brewed beer.
After looking about a bit we went out and were escorted to the Chief's own tent. It had two doors opposite each other, an evident concession to the white man's ideas. It like the other was beautifully constructed. Small trees stripped of braches [branches] abd [and] twigs are woven together in a most expert way to form the bee hive. The crossing of two trees is always tied with bark to make it secure. The men do the work of the framework of the house two standing outside and two standing inside the hut. When the frame is completed, women add the thatch. The floors of thse [these] huts all over Africa are made of the hills of the white ants and are equal in hardness and smoothness to the best asphalt. In the middle between the supporting poles is the fireplace. A carefully lowered space surrounded by a rim something like a platter in shape is prepared for the fire. There is no escape for the smoke and the timbers are blackened by it. At one side of the round room another rim or division was made and behind it was the family collection of pottery bowls for water, straw woven strainers for beer, kettles etc. The family beds consist of mats or skins upon which they lie with a wood block for a pillow and blankets for cover. The whole is rolled up and put one side during the day. The hut was in perfect order, and clean as the small brooms made of brush could make it. The smooth perfect making of the floor and fireplace, the exact and artistic design of the center place filled us with wonder for the completed whole was a genuine work of art. In the Chief's own hut there were three chairs setting in a row. They were of a common kind we were invited to occupy them with pride of ownership very manifest. We were glad to sit for the walk over the hills had been very trying in the tropical sun. I had had to beg the party to stop several times to allow me to cool off. Now in these tents or huts we found the air delightfully cool. I had supposed them to be very hot since they are always exposed to the sun. The chief invited us to partake of his newly presented beer. This was a great honor and we accepted. The men only pour the beer and in many tribes perhaps all, the men alone drank it altho [although] the women brewed it. The chief went out and brought in a woman with a pan of fresh water. Then he washed a strainer and two calabashes. Into one he poured the foamy top of the beer and into the other he poured the good beer. All was done with the greatest cleanliness, ceremony and deliberation. When all was ready he lifted the calabash to his own mouth and took a good swig. The interpreter told us this was to show us that all was safe. He then offered it to the man as such human creatures are the superiors of all females as all the world knows. He however motioned that we were to drink it first. It was then passed to me. Carefully getting my eye focused on the side of the calabash the Chief had not drunk from I lifted it to my lips and took so small a sip that the Chief laughed. The others being beer drinkers drank more to his liking. Afterwards I was able to get a photo of the chief drinking beer and I am sure it was out of the same calabash (a calabash is a gourd. They grow to an enormous size and the largest ones must hold a gallon. In these the beer is kept. Those holding about a quart are used for drinking.

at 8.30 and travelled about a half hour. We then walked over the hills about a mile and a half to the Kraal of the ChiefZ(Laduna) who lives in a small village but whopresides over the affairs of all the little villages we had seen. The interpreter found him a bit grumpy but finally succeeded in getting him in a more hospitable mood and we were recieved. He was clad in his every day clothes which consisted of a nice square of sheep skin hanging from his waist and which always seen to turn under him when he sat like a nice comfy rug should do. In front he wore a bunch of tails which when he sat fell between his legs. The upper part of his body was covered by a white man's under shirt, neither neat nor clean.
After a time he invited us into a hut which was probably his Mother's. It had an extra large entrance door and by stooping we could enter. Usually one must crawl. An old woman lay upon her stomach on a rush mat with a blanket over her. Three young women sat crosslegged in a row and were decked in their Sunday best. Neck and wrists and ankles were decorated with many strings of beads. The hair was wonderfully dressed and a skirt and "moutche" were wrapped about the middle. The legs from the knee down and from the navel up were exposed. These young women had come from a neighboring village to pay the chief a visitand had brought him a present of freshly brewed beer.
After looking about a bit we went out and were escorted to the Chief's own tent. It had two doors opposite each other, an evident concession to the white man's ideas. It like the other was beautifully constructed. Small trees stripped of braches [branches] abd [and] twigs are woven together in a most expert way to form the bee hive. The crossing of two trees is always tied with bark to make it secure. The men do the work of the framework of the house two standing outside and two standing inside the hut. When the frame is completed, women add the thatch. The floors of thse [these] huts all over Africa are made of the hills of the white ants and are equal in hardness and smoothness to the best asphalt. In the middle between the supporting poles is the fireplace. A carefully lowered space surrounded by a rim something like a platter in shape is prepared for the fire. There is no escape for the smoke and the timbers are blackened by it. At one side of the round room another rim or division was made and behind it was the family collection of pottery bowls for water, straw woven strainers for beer, kettles etc. The family beds consist of mats or skins upon which they lie with a wood block for a pillow and blankets for cover. The whole is rolled up and put one side during the day. The hut was in perfect order, and clean as the small brooms made of brush could make it. The smooth perfect making of the floor and fireplace, the exact and artistic design of the center place filled us with wonder for the completed whole was a genuine work of art. In the Chief's own hut there were three chairs setting in a row. They were of a common kind we were invited to occupy them with pride of ownership very manifest. We were glad to sit for the walk over the hills had been very trying in the tropical sun.