The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world - being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics (14770976944)

Identifier: uncivilizedraces00wood (find matches)
Title: The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world : being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics
Year: 1878 (1870s)
Authors: Wood, J. G. (John George), 1827-1889
Subjects: Ethnology Manners and customs Savages
Publisher: Hartford : J. B. Burr and company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive



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ll the while at his ex-pensb, and never leaving him until the lastplantain has been eaten and the last droj) ofrum drunk. He has not strength of mindto resist the flattery which is heaped uponhim, and considers himself bound to rewardhis eulogists by presents. Consequently, atthe end of a week or two he is as poor aswhen he started on his expedition, and isobliged to go ofl and earn more money,of which he will be robbed in a similarmanner when he returns. These feasts are not very enticing to theEuropean palate, for the Mpongwe have noidea of roasting, but boil all their food inearthen vessels. Thev have little scrupleabout the ditterent articles of diet, but willeat the flesh of almost any animal, bird, orreptile that they can kill. Among the Mpongwe, the government ismuch the same as that of the other tribesin Western Equatorial Africa. The differentsub-tribes or clans of the Mpongwe are ruledby their headmen, the jirincipal chief of adistrict being dignified with the title of king.
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C2.) CORONATION. (See page 527.)(526) A MPONGWE CORONATIOJf. 527 Dignity has, as we all know, its drawbacksas well as its privileges, and among theMpongwe it has its pains as well as itspleasures. When once a man is fairlymade king, he may do much as he likes,and is scarcely ever crossed in anythingthat he may desire. But the process ofcoronation was anything but agreeable, andutterly unlike the gorgeous ceremony withwhich civilized men are so familiar. The new king is secretly chosen in solemnconclave, and no one, not even the kingelect, knows on whom the lot has fallen.On the seventh day after the funeral of thedeceased sovereign, the name of the newking is proclaimed, and all the people makea furious rush at him. They shout and yellat him; they load him with all the terms ofabuse in which their language is so prolific;and they insult him in the grossest man-ner. One man will run up to him and shout, You are not my king yet! accompanyingthe words with a sound box on the ear.Another