Identifier: worldsinhabitant00bett (find matches)
Title: The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands
Year: 1888 (1880s)
Authors: Bettany, G. T. (George Thomas), 1850-1891
Subjects: Civilization Culture
Publisher: London Ward, Lock
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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f any potentate on earth. The dread withwhich they inspire their subjects is incredible ; it is said that, for the pur-pose of exhibiting their power over life and death, they will occasion-ally feign fits of passion, and singling out a victim from the crowd, theywill throw a rope about his neck, and with their own hands cut his throatwith one stroke of their jagged scimitar. The eldest son of a chief suc-ceeds to his position, the other sons command portions of his district, butoften endeavour to set up independent authority, thus leading to wars. THE NIAM-NIAM. 593 Like most of their neighbours, the Niam-Niam know nothing ofblit make excellent earthenware, elaborate tobacco Manufactures. leather dressingpipes, muchcarved andcomplex wood-work,and a variety of weapons.They have many instru-ments of music, and canstand music from morn-ing to night. A kindof mandolin is their fa-vourite instrument, thestrings being stretched vertically as Musical taste. in a harp,and theresounding board
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being awithtwo holes, a neck, andscrews for tighteningthe strings. The musicis very monotonous andunmelodious to Europ-ean ears. There areprofessional musicians,too, who go aboutdecked in fantastic cos-tumes, and recite theiradventures at greatlength for rings of cop-per, or beads. Strange to say,wives are not bouo-ht by the Niam- TVT- 1 , Marriage. JNiam ; but application for wives isordinarily made to thelocal chief or prince,who endeavours to ar-range a suitable match.There is unlimited poly-gamy, but there appearsto be general fidelity ;mdeed, the unfaithfulness of a wife is punished by death. Schweinfurthsays that the men show a deep and consistent affection for their wives.The marriage ceremony is simply a procession of the bride to her new A NIAM-NIAM MINSTREL. I Q Q 594 THE INHABITANTS OF AFRICA. ■me Bongo. home, accompanied by musicians, minstrels, and jesters, followed by afeast. To the wives are assigned, besides preparing meals and cultivat-ing the land, the important fu

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