Читать книгу Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia. An account of two years' examination work in 1902-4 on behalf of the government of Rhodesia онлайн

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But the pots of rapoka meal under the euphorbia trees are now being stirred, and each pot has its circle of men to whom dyspepsia appears to be utterly unknown. Sometimes the boys bring a sack of dried locusts. Locusts are esteemed as a dainty, and make an occasional change in the menu, or possibly small red beans, or monkey-nuts, or toasted mealie cobs are feasted upon. While the meal is being devoured one could hardly imagine there was a native within a mile. The stillness of skoff-times (meal-times) in camp serves the purposes of a well-regulated chronometer. Teeth-cleaning is their first business of the day. On rising from sleep and after each meal this is religiously performed. Each takes a mouthful of water and rubs his teeth vigorously with a forefinger, using what water is still remaining in his mouth to wet the skin of face, neck, breast, and hands, squirting it out in doles as required. To hurry them back to work before their teeth had been cleaned would cause them to regard the Baba with looks of genuine horror.