CURIOUS TRIBAL CUSTOMS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8158, 12 June 1906, Page 3

CURIOUS TRIBAL CUSTOMS.

Some exceptionally interesting motes concerning two of tne tribes on or near the western shores of Lake Tanganyika nave been compiled from personal observations by JM. Charles Debaise, of the Congo.lese service. The tribes with which .be deals are the Wabemba and Whoroboro, and there is one distinctive difference between them—the former being oannibals and the .latter not. The writer MAKES THE INTERESTING STATEMENT that the tribes dwelling on tne shores of ,the lake have nevei been cannibals, whereas those of the interior—and especially those between the Upper Omgo and the Jakes—have always .had proclivities towards anthropophagy. la dealing "with some generaJLauatoms of these ttribes, the writer -describes how a child 1 , immediately alter Dirth, is dedicated to the fetish chosen by the mother and takes its name. When the,father is shown the child be examines it to see if it resembles Himself, and if satisfied with the inspection, , HANDS IT BACK TO THE MOTHER, •nMiering the word meaning thanks. All then is harmony. If he is not satisfied returns the chill violently to the mottoer, otters an insult, and leaves tbe hat. The rest js family discord, and the death of the child probably follows. A very cruel custom is entailed by the superstition among the Wabembas that tbe obii whose UPPER TEETH APPEAR BEFORE the lower is unlucky, and the custom la to drown it at once or to leave i t in tbe woods at night for wild beasts to devour. The mother is herself required to get rid thns of her unlucky offspring. It is not surprising to read that, from ignoranoe or want of eare, the mortality among • children is said to be great; consequently, the increase in tbe tribes is slow. Among the funeral customs is this srecially interesting proceeding: Chiefs are buried in the old Hun - fashion in the bed of a stream temporarily 'dammed for the purpose. Two of tbe chief's wives and TWO OP HIS PERSONAL ATTENDANTS are always buried alive with him. When tbe water has again flowed over the grave all tbe slaves are marched past tbe spot, and each receives as he passes a blow on the nape of the neck from a heavy mallet. As soon*as one is killed this part of the function ends. Those slaves who have been struck are given their freedom, while those who have had the good fortune not to be struck have the misfortune to remain slaves. ..-'"'•